Bridgnorth Town (2) 3

B'grove Rovers (0) 2

Rameses League Cup

BROMSGROVE Rovers crashed out of the Rameses League Cup in the first round after a 3-2 defeat at Bridgnorth Town.

Ex-Rovers boss Steve Daley had fired his men up for this cup tie, and Town took the game by the scruff of the neck from the start.

They put Rovers under considerable pressure with ex-Rovers man Brett Wilcox prominent in midfield.

But for poor finishing by Lee Bullimore and Matt Bytheway, Bridgnorth totally dominated the first 30 minutes.

But it was Kevin Banner who almost opened the scoring for Rovers, but Wilcox cleared off the line.

From the clearance, Bridenorth broke doen the right with Bytheway playing a delightful ball behind the Rovers defence for Bullimore to run onto.

Matt Lowe stood up and saved his first effort but the ball went straight back to the striker who rounded the stranded keeper to score.

Five minutes later Rovers were down to ten men when Steve Pope was sent off for violent conduct after a clash with Bullimore.

Carl Bradley made it 2-0 right on half time with a diving header as he ghosted in round the back of the Rovers defence from a Danny Coates free kick.

Rovers were straight back in the game after the break when Stuart Payne was played through by Paul Lloyd. He rounded Simon Bryan to score from an acute angle.

On 51 minutes Lowe tipped a rasping 25-yard shot from Wilcox over the bar. Five minutes later Lloyd cleared a Bullimore header off the line.

Bridgnorth were now turnnig the screw. Bullimore hit the bar after a poor defensive header by Jon Ford fell to him when it looked easier to score after 65 minutes.

The pressure told on the ten-men when Bullimpore slotted home past Lowe two minutes later with Rovers appealing for offside.

Rovers got backinto the game when Frazer McHugh picked up the ball in midfield, spotted the keeper off his line and hit a sublime lob from 30 yards into the top corner of the net.

Rovers were now asking the questions, forcing Bryan to make some good saves, one especially in the final minutes from Ford, tipping the ball on to the crossbar and over.

Bridgnorth held onto record a deserved win against a spirited ten-man Bromsgrove side who gave their all in the second half after a dismal first half showing.

Rovers:Lowe, Porter (sub Lynch 16 mins), Lloyd, Brookes, Ford, Pope, Banner, McHugh, Bowen, Payne, Licata (sub Kavanagh 45 mins).

Sub not used: Matt Coppin

Rovers man of the match: Frazer McHugh.

Attendance: 120