Tuesday, November 18, 2003

IT wasn't pretty but Bromsgrove Rovers secured the league double over Stourport Swifts and with it took three valuable points at the Victoria Ground.

Mark Atkinson and Marcus Jackson got a goal in each half to leave George Rooney's side, who won 2-1 at Swifts earlier this season, unbeaten in the league since the first week of September.

The result never really looked in doubt after Atkinson had turned in Paul Szewczyk's cross at the near post five minutes from half time.

That sparked the game into life and forced Swifts, seemingly in town for a draw, to re-think their game plan.

The first half though was a poor one and before the goal the closest Rovers came to scoring was when Steve Frost had a header cleared off the line 27 minutes in.

Other efforts saw Jackson flash an early shot wide and Kevin Banner ignore the referee's signal of an in-direct free-kick to hit an effort over.

Swifts' first effort on target was Richard Ball's tame header seconds after the break but it was never going to cause Paul Wyatt problems.

Their best chance of the game fell to a Rovers player, Steve Hillman managing to slice a clearance straight at his goalkeeper from point blank range.

The hosts' second came on 67 minutes. Jackson cut inside on the left and fizzed a right foot shot low past Ryan Price from 20 yards.

Atkinson twice went close late on while Szewczyk caused Swifts all sorts of problems with his strength up front.

ROVERS

Wyatt 7, Frost 6, Hillman 6, Pope 7, Mahon 7, Dyson 7, Jackson 7, Scheppel 6, SZEWCZYK 8*, Banner 7, Atkinson 8. Subs not used: Dawson, Gandy, Beckett, Swan, Sutton.

Att - 355.