Bromsgrove Rovers (1) 1 Walsall (1) 3

FORMER England star Paul Merson lit up the Victoria Ground with a stunning third goal against hard working Rovers on Wednesday, August 3.

Merson picked up the ball in his own half skipped past Joe Williams, Steve Hillman and Phil Male and chipped substitute goalkeeper Andy Pryce from 20-yards out.

The goal capped a vintage performance by Merson, who pulled the strings in the second half, but was on hard on Rovers, who had contained Walsall's reserves for most of the game.

Defender Matt Gardiner opened the scoring in the second minute from Kevin Banner's header. Male had headed the corner on and Gardiner looped the ball over John Whitney on the line.

Rovers pulled level in the 13th minute after Jon Newall handballed a Merson corner and Dario Larrossa scored a penalty.

Matthew Barnes-Homer should have scored four minutes later, but he headed Gardiner's right wing cross tamely down at goalkeeper Dean Coleman.

Walsall winger Ishmel DeMontagnac came close to scoring when he collected Merson's cross-field pass . Goalkeeper Lee Evans rushed out of goal and the winger tried his luck from an acute angle, but it flashed wide of the right hand post.

Rovers found themselves trailing in the 52nd minute when Merson passed to DeMontagnac. The winger dribbled into the box, was brought down, but the ball bobbled to Larrossa, who made no mistake.

Kevin Banner almost levelled the scores two minutes later. He volleyed Riad Erraji's cross over the bar.

The lively winger had looked a threat all night and he carved out another scoring chance in the 65th minute.

Banner cut inside on the left, but could only shoot at Walsall's 'keeper.

The home side camped in Walsall's half, but were hit on the break for Merson's wonder goal.

As the hosts tired Jay Szytbel and Alex Nicholls could have scored more, but it would have given Walsall an undeserved winning margin.

Rovers: Evans (Pryce, 45mins), Newall (Johnson, 65mins), Hillman., Male, Gardiner (Williams, 70mins), Hadland (Benbow, 56mins), Riad Erraji (Francis, 86mins), Dyer, Barnes-Homer (Greenway, 56mins), Smith (Ramsey, 58mins), Banner.

Walsall: Coleman , Leaver, Whitney (Tuohy, 58mins), Harkness, Ian Roperm Mark Bradley Brown (McDermott, 85mins), Cartwright (Smith, 45mins), Larrosa (Nicholls, 65mins), Merson, DeMongtagnac (Szytbel, 76mins).