Sutton Coldfield Town 1 Bromsgrove Rover 2

Southern League Midlands Division One

by Peter McKinney

STRIKER Nathan Lamey's two goal blast handed Rovers an explosive start to the season, before being sent off in a fiery encounter at Coles Lane on Saturday.

The hitman enjoyed an eventful league debut for Rovers with two well taken goals early only but then Lamey, who joined from Halesowen, missed a penalty, was involved in Sutton defender Nathan Moran's sending off and then got dismissed himself near the end for a late sliding tackle.

The game was one of Rovers' most explosive starts to the season in recent years and the scoreline did not reflect an impressive performance, where the visitors carved out enough chances to run up a cricket score, before Davion Hamilton's goal gave them the jitters.

Manager Rod Brown decided to pair veterans Paul Carty and Carl Heeley with Chris McHale at the back, while Richard Burgess got the nod over Neil Davis to partner Lamey up front.

Sutton were missing jet heeled strikers Justin Rowe and Damian Markman though injury, who scored 41 goals between them in the 2005/2006 campaign.

Rovers almost conceded a goal in the third minute. Carty tried to dribble out of the penalty area and was dispossessed by Matt Dodds, but goalkeeper Dean Coleman made a good save from his low shot.

But the visitors hit back three minutes later, when Lamey controlled a cross and buried a powerful shot into the bottom left hand corner.

Lamey made it 2-0 in the 14th minute when he latched onto Coleman's goal kick and raced past Cameron Stuart and unleashed a shot that 'keeper Darren Causer did well to save. Lamey though slid in to hook the rebound into the back of the net and get Rovers' season off to a flying start.

Minutes later Lamey was presented with a chance to make it a hat trick when Moran, who was booked, smashed into winger Kevin Banner as he powered into Sutton's penalty area. Unfortunately, Lamey's weakly struck spot-kick down the middle cannoned off Causer's feet.

Despite the miss Lamey's appetite for goals had not been sated and he ghosted into Sutton's box and volleyed James Smith's free kick wide on the half hour mark.

Wayne Dyer was put through by John Snape's square pass but he hesitated and allowed Moran to make a brilliant recovering tackle in the 32nd minute.

Mark Taylor, who was dominant for Rovers in midfield, combined with Banner to set Lamey into Sutton's penalty area but he blazed over.

The visitors seemed to be able to carve open Sutton at will but a goal against the run of play knocked Rover's confidence.

Hamilton's header from Leon Doughty's free-kick squirmed through a crowded box to turn what had been a procession of Rovers' chances into a contest once again.

However, Moran's sending off in the 41st minute tipped the scales back in Rovers' favour. The big defender was enjoying a good game but he clattered into the committed Lamey and was shown his second yellow for a high challenge.

Unfortunately Lamey was also shown a yellow card for a bizarre incident.

He had been taken off for treatment after Moran's challenge and had not been allowed back onto pitch yet by the referee. Unfortunately, he accepted Carty's free kick and was booked.

Moran's dismissal fired up Sutton and Hamilton saw a powerful volley fly over Coleman's bar at the start of the second half, before Matt Brown headed wide a minute later.

Bromsgrove started to control the game and Chris McHale had an effort ruled out for offside in the 66th minute and Smith drove a shot wide in the 73nd minute.

Substitute Neal Davis' pass allowed Dyer to glide into the box but Lucan Spittle headed his cross away in the 75th minute.

Dyer set Banner free and his raking low ball flashed across the penalty area but the sliding Davis was just too late to connect.

Lamey's part in the game was unceremoniously ended when he fouled Doughty as he prowled Rovers' box and he was presented with a second yellow card.

Despite being reduced to ten men Rovers held on for their first win over Sutton in three seasons and whetted the fans' appetite for what looks like an exciting season in the Southern League Division One Midlands.

ROVERS: Coleman 7, Smith 7, McHale 7, Carty 6, Heeley 7, Snape 7 (McDonald, 68mins, 6), Dyer 6, Taylor 8, Lamey 7, Burgess 7 (Davis, 63mins, 6), Banner 7.

SUTTON: Causer, Heath, Stuart (Harris), Moran, Hatton, Spittle, Dodds, Leon Doughty, Hamilton, Brown (Hughes, 63mins), Wilson (Jackson, 72mins). Bookings: Moran (two yellow), Lamey (two yellow), Carty (yellow), Smith (yellow).

Attendance: 235