Tuesday, September 3, 2002

KEVIN Banner emerged a FA Cup hero for ten-man Bromsgrove Rovers after scoring a final minute replay winner in a 4-3 thriller with Barwell at the Victoria Ground.

With the game looking destined for extra time, Banner fired home a shot from 30 yards to set up a home clash with Gresley in the first qualifying round.

Rovers, who were held 1-1 by the Midland Alliance side last Saturday, played for over an hour a man down after Stewart Brighton saw red for holding back Dave Lucas when through on goal.

Joint manager Gary Hackett was full of praise for his team.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted. I thought some of our passing throughout the game was outstanding.

"We suffered a setback with the sending off but the lads were magnificent."

An enthralling game started badly for the Greens as they fell behind inside three minutes when Andy Lucas fed Dave Lucas to put Barwell ahead.

The lead lasted barely 90 seconds as Jon Ford rose to head home Mark Benbow's corner.

But after a frantic start, the game slowed down until, on 30 minutes, Brighton tugged the shirt of Dave Lucas in a goal scoring position, giving the referee no option but to send him off.

To make matters worse, from the resulting free-kick, Wayne Thornhill struck the visitors 2-1 up.

Five minutes later, Ford had a header cleared from under the crossbar before the excellent Les Palmer drew Rovers level on 38 minutes.

He intercepted the ball just inside the Barwell half and ran 40 yards to slot home.

Three minutes after the break, the ten men were ahead. Palmer was fouled in the box and James Dyson converted the spot kick.

But Dave Lucas slid the ball under Matt Lowe to equalise with Barwell's first second half effort on 68 minutes.

Extra time seemed inevitable until Banner twisted and turned in midfield in the last minute before sending a shot high over Paul Grears from 30 yards.

ROVERS

Lowe 6, Benbow 6, Banner 7, Clifton 7, Brighton 6, Ford 6, Dyson 6, Southwick 7, PALMER (sub Burgess 71 mins) 8*, Danks (sub Crisp 78 mins) 6, Beckett 7. Subs not used: Pope, Cartwright, Thomas.

Attendance: 309.