BROMSGROVE Rovers made it three games without conceding a goal as they defeated a stubborn Boldmere St Michaels side 2-0.

Rovers' third victory on the bounce, following 3-0 and 6-0 wins against Oldbury United and Pelsall Villa respectively, keeps them in second place behind leaders Stourbridge with three games left.

In front of Boldmere's biggest crowd of the season, 266, both teams started nervously on a hard and uneven surface.

Rovers attacked from the start with Kevin Banner making a strong run from defence and firing wide while Les Palmer and the hard working Grant Beckett mastered the conditions better than most.

The Mikes replied down the left and Bagley and Richardson combined to put the visitors' defence under pressure before goalkeeper Matt Lowe was able to clear.

But disaster struck for the home side on 26 minutes when a long clearance from Paul Lloyd found defender Tom Bayley wanting and Sam Bowen pounced from 10 yards for his fourth goal in three games.

The hosts should have replied when Carl Dwyer's clever through ball gave Nathan Hylton a chance but his delicate lob just cleared the bar.

The second half opened with the home side striving for the equaliser and they were denied a goal when Lowe saved a goalbound header from a free-kick.

Boldmere continued to push forward and enjoyed plenty of midfield pressure without creating any clear cut chances and Rovers were content to sit back and soak up any pressure.

The game was sewn up for the visitors 12 minutes from time when Ford, who ran the London Marathon on Sunday, won the ball in midfield and surged forward.

His accurate cross from the left was met in space by substitute Neil Cartwright who planted a firm header past Knight.

Rovers: Lowe, Lloyd, Banner (sub Young 83 mins), Ford, Clifton, Pope, Frost (sub Cartwright 73 mins), Bowen, Crisp (sub Taylor 60 mins), Beckett.

Attendance: 266. Rovers man of the match: Beckett.