DMW August 30, 1999

TWO penalties, two disallowed goals and a hard-working performance added up to Rovers' first point of the Millennium season.

After three disappointing draws and a lost point at home to Hinckley on Saturday, Steve Daley's side were determined to make amends against unbeaten Bilston at Queen Street on Monday night.

After an even start, the Greens began to take control and on ten minutes striker Richard Congrave, a new signing from Worcester City, saw a flick header from Ian Cooper's free kick well saved by Bilston 'keeper Gary Price.

Just six minutes later Price was again the home hero, this time saving from Ryan Daley after good approach work by Stuart Payne. Matt Bytheway saw a long-range effort saved on 29 minutes before the visitors' pressure took its toll on the half hour mark.

The busy Kevin Jinks intercepted a pass in his own half and ran at the home defence, urged on by manager Daley and visiting supporters alike. On reaching the penalty area, Jinks skipped inside the full back and was brought down by Mark Clifton for an obvious penalty. Payne made no mistake from the spot to score his first goal since returning to Rovers on loan.

Both teams then had a goal disallowed, Congrave for the Rovers and Bilston's Lee Hughes were foiled by the offside flag.

The Steelmen equalised in first half injury time, 'keeper Derek Dudley needlessly hauling down Chris Burton near the left hand edge of the penalty area and Scott Vice converting the spot kick with ease.

Part two failed to match the expectations of the crowd, with chances for both sides at a premium. The best chances fell to Hughes, who saw a curling shot tipped over by Dudley on 67 minutes and was then foiled at close range by the visiting 'keeper as the final whistle approached.

Rovers: Dudley, Ashley, Ulfig, Bytheway, Dodd, Winstone, Cooper, Payne, Congrave, Daley, Jinks. Subs (unused): Brown, Davies, Hopkins.

Attendance: 235. Rovers man of the match: Steve Ulfig.