Sutton Coldfield Town 1 Bromsgrove Rovers 1

BROMSGROVE Rovers held on for a well-earned point at Coles Lane after defender Ross Collins was controversially sent off on Monday night.

Collins was originally the hero for Rovers when he opened the scoring.

But he turned into a villain when he was sent off for two yellow cards by referee Mr Mark Warren.

Rovers defensive kingpin had already been harshly booked for a challenge on Sutton keeper Dale Belford.

However, he was given his marching orders in the 41st minute for a late challenge on striker Damien Markman.

His absence at the back was punished two minutes later, when Lucan Spittle took advantage of some poor marking to sweep the home side's equaliser past goalkeeper Lee Evans.

Manager Jimmy Mullen though will be pleased at his side's never-say-die attitude.

Before Collins' dismissal Rovers had totally dominated the game.

Rovers pushed for an early goal and Mark Benbow's cross was collected by striker Chris Smith - but he was blocked by the alert Spittle in the second minute.

Daniel McGhee tested goalkeeper Evans a minute later, but he was equal to his low shot.

McGhee was looking Sutton's most threatening player and it took a well-time block in Rovers' penalty area by Collins to stop him getting a shot off.

The defender showed he knows where goal is when he opened the scoring in the 18th minute.

Kevin Banner's swerving corner evaded the defence, as Collins headed in at the far post.

Benbow almost doubled the lead four minutes later, but Town skipper Nathan Moran cleared his shot off the line.

Collins was booked in the 26th minute after he collided with Belford while going for Banner's free kick at the far post.

The Rovers fans behind goal were incensed by his booking and even angrier when Belford, who seemed to lash out at Collins while they were on the floor, only received a yellow card.

Matthew Barnes-Homer headed over from a Banner free-kick in the 29th minute, while Collins also put a far post header wide a minute later.

The game changed when Collins was given his second yellow in the 41st minute. The pacey Markman looked set to power down the left wing until the late arriving Collins brought him down..

Two minutes later Spittle was given too much freedom in the penalty area and slotted McGhee's left wing cross past Evans.

Manager Jimmy Mullen took off Barnes-Homer for defender Joe Williams and left Smith to fend for himself up front.

The alert Evans saved right back Matthew Johnson's blushes in the first minute of the second half, when his short back pass almost let Markman in on goal.

Rovers were under pressure but Wayne Dyer carved out great chance for Smith in the 59th minute.

Dyer powered to the edge of the box and slipped the ball to Smith, whose shot bounced off Sutton's cross bar.

Sutton also came close in the 65th minute, with Evans denying Rowe and Johnson clearing Markman's follow-up off the line.

As the game wore on Rovers improved and both Dyer and Banner had long range attempts that were just off target.

At the end of the game Rovers' angry supporters ironically clapped Mr Warren off the pitch.

Rovers: Evans 7, Johnson 6, Hillman 7, Male 7, Collins 5, Erraji 7,

Benbow 7, DYER 8 (Hadland, 90mins, 6) Barnes-Homer 6 (Williams, 44mins, 6), Smith 6 (Mitchell 70mins, 6), Banner 7.

Subs not used:

Curtis, Ramsey.

Sutton: Belford 6, Haynes 6, Massingham 5, Spittle 7, Moran 7, Owen 6, McGee 7, Field 6, Rowe 6 (May, 77mins, 6), Markman 7, Berks 6 (Hebberd, 77mins, 6).

Subs not used: Dodds, Breedon (GK), Hazel.

Bookings: Collins sent off - two yellow cards, Dyer - yellow, Belford - yellow, Owen - yellow.

Referee: Mark Warren (Walsall).

Attendance: 194.

By Peter McKinney