STEVE Pope scored twice and Mark Atkinson once as Bromsgrove Rovers booked their place in the FA Trophy First Round proper with a 3-1 defeat of Sutton Coldfield Town.

Once again George Rooney's side displayed an all round commitment and the passion and purpose which marked the previous week's FA Cup success at Hednesford was much in evidence.

The Royals arrived at the Victoria Ground top of the Dr Martens Western Division but were offered Sutton few crumbs of comfort.

Goalkeeper Paul Wyatt did offer one chance when he missed an intended clearance way out of his area on 16 minutes, but Gray's intended lob was well off target.

Rovers took the lead in bizarre fashion. The livewire Atkinson charged down goalkeeper Bray's intended 28th minute clearance, which resulted in the ball looping and spinning before dropping under the bar and nipping back off the turf into the roof of the net.

Pope's perfectly executed downward header from Grant Beckett's 40th minute corner for the second was no more than Rovers deserved.

That comfort zone was seriously undermined four minutes after the break when Wyatt inexplicably lost a hopeful cross from Wolsey and the ball flew over him and into the net.

Rovers were not rattled though and were awarded a penalty when speedy Marcus Jackson tangled with goalkeeper Bray. Pope clattered in the spot kick.

Rovers might have had more, but Peter Sutton twice failed in one-on-one situations and Jackson should have done better with another opportunity.

ROVERS

Wyatt 7, Frost 7, Hillman 7, POPE 8*, Benton 7, Beckett 7 (sub Dyson 86 mins), Jackson 7, Scheppel 7, Sutton 7, Benbow 7, Atkinson 7 (sub James 86 mins). Subs not used: Dawson, Gandy, Banner.

Att - 369.

Match report by ALAN WALLCROFT.