Bromsgrove Rovers (1) 1

Boldmere St Michaels (0) 0

Midland Football Alliance

DID you see any of the Rovers players out drinking on Friday night? If so, it would explain their hangovers during Saturday's match.

Aside from goalkeeper Matt Lowe, the Bromsgrove side was a mere shadow of its normal self and didn't perform from start to finish.

Sloppy passing, poor finishing and nervy defending, this was a match Steve Daniels' men will want to forget.

But they won, courtesy of Jon Ford's 29th minute penalty, and can take heart from the fact they can pick up results when they're not playing well.

Lowe's heroics -- once in the seventh minute when he tipped over from Tim Hilton's dipping effort, and a fine block in the 96th minute from Lee Colvin -- ensured Rovers kept in touch with the leading pack.

The only goal of the game came when Sam Bowen was brought down by goalkeeper Matt Knight inside the area. Ford slotted home the subsequent spot-kick with ease.

Paul Lloyd had a more certain penalty appeal waved away minutes later when two Boldmere defenders sandwiched the nippy full back.

Although Rovers improved slightly in the second half, there was little of note to get excited about.

New signing Shaun Derry showed only glimpses of his reputation with three telling through-balls, but even he struggled to make an impact with his team mates having off-days.

Yet Boldmere failed to conjure up any worthwhile attacks themselves, and can have no complaints about leaving the Victoria Ground empty handed.

A dour match was lit up in the six or so minutes of injury time caused by an injury to Boldmere's Jon Price.

Lowe produced the first class stop from Colvin, and Rovers went straight up the other end and earnt another penalty. Kevin Banner was scythed down inside the area but Ford's second spot-kick was an awful imitation of the first and goalkeeper Matt Knight saved easily.

Rovers: Lowe, Banner, Lloyd, Brookes, Ford, Pope, Derry (sub Coppin 82 mins), McHugh, Bowen (sub Lynch 88 mins), Payne, Kavanagh.

Rovers man of the match: Matt Lowe.

Attendance: 398. Report by CHRIS VAUGHAN.