Mickleover Sports (1) 1

Bromsgrove Rovers (1) 2

FA Cup First Qualifying Round

ROVERS had to show their mettle to overcome their Northern Counties East League Division One opponents.

And the victory sets up a mouthwatering tie at the Victoria Ground on September 29 against Dr Martens League Premier Division outfit Tamworth United.

Chris Porter fired the first shot of the match after only four minutes, which was well saved by Mark Wilson.

Mickleover opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Simon Alderson took a quick free kick. The Rovers defence left each other to deal with it and Tony Marsden swept the ball past a startled Matt Lowe in goal.

Four minutes later they almost doubled their tally when Matt Warren fired in a direct free kick that only just cleared the bar.

Michael Moore had a chance for Rovers in the 22nd minute when he blazed over the bar in a good position on the edge of the box. Two minutes later Sam Bowen shot straight at Wilson after turning his marker.

Rovers had another scare in the 30th minute when Lowe dropped Corin Holness's cross but the ball just fell behind Chris McGinty and Lowe pounced on the loose ball.

Rovers equalised on 42 minutes when Paul Lloyd intercepted a pass in midfield.

He gave the ball to Moore who played a first time ball to Sam Bowen who rounded the keeper to slot home his tenth goal in only seven games.

Warren fired in another free kick which shaved Lowe's crossbar five minutes into the second half. Six minutes later Bowen beat the offside trap but shot wide from an acute angle.

Rovers were now starting to get on top by keeping the ball on the ground with slick passes.

Referee Cooke of Mansfield tried his best to spoil the match for Rovers when he awarded Mickleover a penalty in the 72nd minute. Morgan Brookes was adjudged to have fouled Marsden in the area.

Justice

Justice was done when Lowe dived to his right to push Marsden's spot kick round the post.

Rovers should have had a penalty a minute later when Michael Moore seemed to be clipped in the area. This incensed manager Steve Daniels who was sent from the dugout for protesting vehemently at the officials.

This spurred Rovers on and Bowen's header almost squirmed under Wilson's body four minutes later.

Then came the goal that settled the tie on 77 minutes. Michael Moore broke down the left, drew the defenders and played the ball into the space behind the defence. Kevin Banner pounced on the ball and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net past the advancing keeper.

A couple of minutes later Matt Coppin almost put the tie beyond doubt but his shot was well saved by Wilson.

Rovers again started passing the ball around, making Mickleover chase shadows, which ended up in a mass brawl after Alderson hacked down Gordon Lynch in the 82nd minute.

Bowen shot wide five minutes later after turning his marker on the edge of the area. Rovers played keep-ball for the final few minutes to register the win their second half performance merited.

Rovers: Lowe, Porter, Lloyd, Brookes, Ford, Pope, Coppin, Lynch, Bowen, Moore, Banner.

Subs not used: Sumnal, Wright, Burns, Palmer, McGettrick.

Attendance: 144

Rovers man of the match: Michael Moore

Report by STEVE RIDDICK.