BROMSGROVE Rovers' difficult pre-season programme suffered another setback at the Victoria Ground when they lost 3-0 to Hednesford Town.

Like the defeat to Kidderminster Harriers three days before, Rovers never recovered from a slow start that allowed their rivals to streak into a commanding 3-0 lead by the end of the first-half.

Rovers' boss Jimmy Mullen made sweeping changes at half-time, but handed starts to right back Neil Ecclestone, midfielder Scott Hadland and striker Matthew Barnes-Homer.

Barnes-Homer spearheaded Rovers' first attack in the third minute, when he ran into the Town box, but he shot across the goal.

Poor marking by the home side allowed winger Colin Hunter to open the scoring three minutes later. His diagonal run deceived Rovers' defence and he slipped the ball under goalkeeper Lee Evans.

Chris Smith doubled the visitors' lead when he latched onto McMahon's pass over the top on the half-hour mark. While Rovers' defence played for offside, the former Rovers striker placed the ball under Evans.

Rovers pushed for a goal, but were hit on the break again in the 39th minute. Courtney Shaw gave the ball away and Smith latched onto a long ball forward. The striker held off Joe Williams and made it 3-0.

Mullen made a host of changes at the break, bringing on Delton Francis, Leon Mitchell, Phil Male, Carl Adams, Martin Ruddock, Riad Erraji and Jon Daniels.

The changes brought an improvement, but Rovers could not convert half chances, with Adams and Ruddock both blazing wide.