BROMSGROVE Rovers reached the FA Cup third qualifying round with a surprise 2-0 win at Dr Martens Premier side Hednesford Town.

George Rooney's side secured victory with second half strikes from livewire Mark Atkinson and Danny Scheppel.

Although Hednesford were poor, Rovers turned in arguably their best performance of the season.

They were unlucky not to have been ahead on five minutes when Mark Benbow whipped a left wing free-kick straight into Ryan Young's goal. Referee Mr A Newbold gave the goal before a linesman ruled for offside.

The visitors exerted all the early pressure and were given extra confidence as Young flapped at most high balls. Peter Sutton was the beneficiary of one such mistake but he blazed wide from six yards.

Wasted

Hednesford had their best spell of the match midway through the half. Nathan Lamey wasted their top chance by playing the ball straight to Rovers stopper Paul Wyatt from close range before Karl Brown curled an effort past the post.

Rovers led on 62 minutes when Steve Pope teed up Atkinson to fire home from eight yards.

They extended their lead with 16 minutes left. Young was once again at fault as he failed to hold on to Beckett's close range shot and Scheppel was on hand to bundle the ball in and send players and fans alike into delirium.

From there it was the formality of winding down the clock as the hosts basically gave up save for a tame Chris Brindley header.

Rovers: Wyatt 6, Frost 7, Hillman 7, Pope 7, Benton 7, Beckett 8, Jackson 7, Scheppel 7, Sutton 7, Benbow 7, H ATKINSON 8. Subs not used: Dawson, Gandy, Dyson, James, Banner.

Attendance: 570.

n Redditch United face a replay with Shirebrook Town on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw at the Valley Stadium. Lee Ross scored a late equaliser for the Reds.