Bedworth United 0 Bromsgrove Rovers 1

Southern League Division One West

DEFENDER Steve Frost bagged a late winner and saved goalkeeper Matt Lowe's blushes, after he was sent off during a bad tempered clash at Bedworth on Bank Holiday Monday.

Frost enhanced his reputation as a scorer of crucial goals for Rovers by heading in his fifth of the season in the 84th minute.

The goal was just reward for hard working Rovers, who had been reduced to ten men after goalkeeper Lowe brought down striker Michael Swan outside the area in the 74th minute.

Rovers failed to get to grips with Bedworth's physical approach in the first half, as they found themselves pushed back from the start.

Arthur Appleton wasted a chance to cross in the seventh minute after striker partner Paul Szewczyk had fed him down the left wing, but his delivery was too high.

Matt Johnson then cleared the ball over his own goal under pressure from Lee Greenway when Kristian Kelsall cut into the box and sent in a low cross.

Andy Crabtree should have put Rovers behind in the 24th minute, but he headed Gilbert Cummins cross at goalkeeper Matt Lowe.

Defender Matt Gardiner injured his knee after a reckless challenge on Cummins three minutes later.

Lowe was equal to United wide-man Paul Spacey's curling shot from the edge of box, but Rovers were being put under increasing pressure.

Szewczyk sent a header wide in the 36th minute and he then had a good call for a penalty ignored by referee Mr Weaver, after Crabtree pushed him down in the box.

Both were booked after the two clashed over the incident.

Riad Erraji, who was struggling to dictate the game, was also harshly booked for a foul on Spacey in the 46th minute, when he hardly seemed to touch the Bedworth playmaker.

Rovers came out more determined in the second half, but Scott Hadland was booked for a foul on his older brother, Guy, four minutes into the period.

Stabbed

From Kevin Banner's 56th minute corner Steve Hillman stooped to head the ball and Riad Erraji stabbed it wide of the left-hand post.

Mr Weaver had no choice but to dismiss Lowe in the 74th minute after he brought down former Rovers Swan. Manager Jimmy Mullen brought back-up keeper Ian Gandy on for Kevin Banner.

Despite being reduced to ten men Rovers grew in confidence and Szewczyk forced United keeper Lee Evans to tip over his 81st minute shot after the ball had ricocheted around the box.

Bromsgrove pushed for a goal and it came in the 84th minute. Bedworth's defence missed substitute Mark Benbow's cross from the right and Szewczyk had ample time to send in a flighted ball, which the late arriving Frost powered past Evans.

Rovers: Lowe 5, Johnson 8, Hillman 7, Gardiner 6 (Frost, 41mins, 7), Male 7, Hadland 6, Francis 5 (Benbow, 36mins, 7), Erraji 6, Szewczyk 7, Appleton 6, Banner 6 (Gandy, 74mins, 6).

Referee: Mark Weaver.

Attendance: 245.

Bookings: Szewczyk - yellow (38mins), Erraji - yellow (46mins), Hadland - yellow (47mins), Lowe - red (74mins).

By Peter McKinney