DMW January 18, 2000

ROVERS' scorching start to the Year 2000 continued with last night's drubbing of Stourbridge at the Victoria Ground.

Steve Daley's side fought back from a goal down to chalk up their third successive league win. Quentin Townsend (two), Peter Sutton and Mark Benbow were the men on target in a fast-moving encounter that belied both teams' lowly status.

"The players showed so much commitment -- they're going for every ball,'' said a delighted Daley.

"If this result doesn't give them belief that they can still finish in the top half of the table then nothing will.''

The Glassboys gave Rovers an early fright, taking the lead on 15 minutes through Wayne Dyer's curling 25 yarder into Nore Gabbidon's top corner.

But, roared on by a crowd of 397, the home side responded just ten minutes later. Sutton's cheeky back heel foxed the Stourbridge defence and Townsend made the most of the inevitable confusion to bundle the ball over the line.

The second half was enthr-alling. Townsend bagged his second, a close range header from John Humphreys' perfect corner, after 55 minutes to put Rovers in the driving seat, but the visitors still fancied their chances of turning things round.

However, after Tim Nichols drove wide of the post with only Gabbidon to beat, you began to sense that their confidence was slowly ebbing away.

Sutton posted the third goal, a low shot from 15 yards, on 76 minutes and Benbow's hard work finally paid off with four minutes remaining when he converted Kevin Jinks' free kick.

Rovers: Gabbidon, Ashley, Ulfig, Davies, Townsend, Rochester, Humphreys, Benbow, Sutton, Daley, Jinks. Subs (unused): Wilkins, Cooper, Hunter. MoM: Tom Davies.