Tuesday, August 19, 2003

BROMSGROVE Rovers continued their unbeaten start to the new Dr Martens Western season with a stalemate at Bedworth United last night.

George Rooney's side, 2-1 home victors against Taunton Town in last Saturday's opener, found themselves in a scrappy affair as both sets of strikers were marked out of the game.

Rovers, beaten 2-1 in the same fixture last season, had the chances to win it, the best of which fell to Marcus Jackson as early as the eighth minute.

The speedy winger found himself with a good opportunity after outpacing manager's son Danny Hollywood but rushed his shot and blazed over the top of Macauley Iyayi's goal.

Paul White had the hosts' best chance of the game on 38 minutes when he clipped the ball over visiting stopper Paul Wyatt and on to the crossbar. The ball rebounded to Kevin Charley but his effort was flagged offside.

Steve Frost, replacing suspended Dave Benton, denied White a goalscoring chance in the first half with a last ditch tackle on the edge of the penalty area.

Further Rovers chances came but Bedworth had goalkeeper Iyayi to thank for two good saves after the break. Danny Scheppel also fired a shot wide from an acute angle.

ROVERS

Wyatt 7, Frost 7, Hillman 7, Pope 7, Dyson 6, Benbow 6, JACKSON 8*, Scheppel (sub Sutton 82 mins) 7, Dawson 6, Jones 6, Tompkins 6. Subs not used: Banner, Bowen, Beckett, Gandy.

Att - 206.

Match report from STEVE RIDDICK at The Oval.