DMW August 14, 1999

NORMAL service has been resumed -- do not adjust your specs.

For 25 minutes, the Western Division's second highest crowd of the day felt confident that Rovers would race into a comfortable opening day lead.

Neat passes along the back line received polite ripples of applause, Ian Cooper and Tom Davies' efforts in midfield brought appreciative nods and, well, when 20-year-old Andy Wright missed those two early chances, fans were disappointed, but convinced that more opportunities would soon follow.

Then the unthinkable happened and Sutton, a depressingly unadventurous side, took an undeserved lead.

Instead of booting Matt Pendleton's ill-advised back pass into the Stourbridge Road, Greens 'keeper Nore Gabbidon fluffed his kick completely, allowing experienced Royals striker Ian Drewitt to nip in and tuck away an easy opener.

While the world whizzed around Rovers' heads, Sutton added a second ten minutes later. This time, 30-year-old Drewitt, a midweek signing from Hinckley, latched onto a through ball and beat the indecisive Gabbidon with a low shot from the edge of the box.

Two chances, two goals and the homesters faced a half time mouthful from furious boss Steve Daley and a mountain to climb.

But if Rovers hadn't pressed the self-destruct button, the final result could have been so different.

Keeping up the momentum gained in pre-season, their early football was certainly encouraging. A speedy burst down the right by Mark Benbow set up Wright's first chance on 13 minutes, but the ex-Oldbury United man blazed over from an awkward angle.

And a well-worked free kick move involving Cooper and Davies ended with Wright somehow tripping over his feet and scuffing a close range effort wide.

The second period saw Rovers enjoy long spells of possession but they were frustrated by a hard-working, hassling Sutton side who never allowed them any time on the ball.

Davies and Cooper both shone and Steve Brown produced a couple of gutsy runs but chances were limited. Arguably the best came in the dying minutes when Wright drove Benbow's pass into the side netting.

Dogged in defence, Sutton were far too casual up front with Ian Perry and Richard Lavery both squandering late chances to add to their tally at the Victoria Ground.

Rovers: Gabbidon, Bytheway, Pendleton, Davies, Brien, Daley, Benbow, Cooper, Wright, Hopkins, Brown. Subs (unused): Ulfig, Dudley, Jinks.

Attendance: 480. Rovers MoM: Tom Davies. Bookings: none -- hurrah!