Saturday, October 26, 2002

BROMSGROVE Rovers surrendered their unbeaten Dr Martens Western record as they were out played and out muscled by a determined Merthyr Tydfil at The Victoria Ground last Saturday.

With former Rovers forward Andy Mainwaring in their line-up, The Martyrs opened strongly and the hosts were thankful for early saves by goalkeeper Matt Lowe from both Mainwaring and his impressive strike partner Cortez Belle.

The Greens however took the lead against the run of play on 31 minutes. Fraser HcHugh's left wing corner was headed towards goal by Mark Clifton, Merthyr failed to clear the loose ball and Paul Danks was on hand to steer the ball home from close range.

The lead only lasted 90 seconds with Mainwaring making the final touch after Kevin Evan's fierce shot from the edge of the area took several deflections in the box, leaving Lowe unsighted.

Mainwaring scored the deciding goal on 41 minutes when he beat the offside trap, skipped past Lowe, and drilled the ball into the net from a narrow angle.

The visitors continued in the ascendancy at the start of the second period, Ryan Dorrian shooting wide of Lowe's right hand post on 57 minutes.

The introduction of joint manager Jon Ford into the midfield gave the home team more competitiveness in this crucial area of the pitch and chances were created for James Dyson, but his two headers went just wide of Neil Thomas' goal.

Jason Price, who dominated Merthyr's defence all afternoon, had three chances to secure victory on 77 minutes but all his efforts were blocked by Kevin Banner, Lowe and Clifton respectively.

The visitors were reduced to ten men on 80 minutes when Paul Keddle ran 30 yards to push Les Palmer after the Bromsgrove forward had fouled Price in the penalty area.

Rovers were unable to make the extra man count as Merthyr defended in numbers and the game ended in a flurry of bookings by referee P Kirkup as tempers flared on both sides.

ROVERS

LOWE 7*, Benbow (sub Read 75 mins) 6, Banner 6, Clifton 7, Brighton 5, Pope 6, Dyson 6, McHugh 6, Palmer (sub Burgess 85 mins) 6, Danks 7, Frost (sub Ford 60 mins 6) 5. Subs not used: Lloyd, Hackett.

Att - 557.

Match report by CHRIS FOX.