Tuesday, October 15, 2002

BROMSGROVE Rovers beat Atherstone United for the second time in four days to book a home Birmingham Senior Cup Second Round date with Moor Green.

Rovers' 3-1 victory came courtesy of goals from Les Palmer, James Dyson and Steve Pope although Adders goalkeeper Craig Dutton gifted the first two.

At a rainy and windswept Sheepy Road, Gary Hackett and Jon Ford's side had the early chances with Les Palmer shooting wide and Ashley Read hitting the bar while Tom Lenton wasted a good chance for the hosts.

Rovers' breakthrough came on 25 minutes. Palmer hit a high ball into the box but goalkeeper Dutton misjudged the flight in the swirling wind and fumbled it into the net.

Rovers went two clear four minutes after the interval when James Dyson nodded a header towards the goal only for Dutton to again fumble the ball and drop it into his own net.

Atherstone got one back a minute later when Kevin Charley scored from the penalty spot after the striker was adjudged to have been tripped by Palmer.

The game was effectively wrapped up on 59 minutes when Steve Pope got on the end of a ball for 3-1.

A date has not yet been set for the Moor Green tie.

ROVERS

Lowe 7, Benbow 5, Banner 6, Ford 7 (sub Clifton 81 mins), FROST 9*, Pope 8, Dyson 7 (sub Broadhurst 65 mins), Lloyd 6, Palmer 8 (sub Burgess 70 mins), Read 8, Beckett 7.

Attendance - 43.