Bromsgrove Rovers 0 Swindon Supermarine 2

Southern League Division One West

LACKLUSTRE Rovers were left to rue an error-strewn display as they suffered their first home defeat in the Southern League Division One West on Saturday.

Despite a flurry of second half chances for Rovers' victory was no more than industrious Supermarine deserved as they took advantage of sloppy defending by the home side.

Rovers were unusually nervous at the back, and defender Phil Male gave away a penalty for the opener, before Matt Pratley sealed Rovers' defeat at the start of the second half.

R overs manager Jimmy Mullen gave winger Matthew Barnes-Homer a start and towering centre back Exodus Geohagan his Victoria Ground debut. Captain Steve Hillman, who missed Rovers defeat at Willenhall because of the birth of his daughter, also returned to the side.

The home side made a lively start, with striker Dean Curtis heading Kevin Banner's sixth minute free-kick wide of the right hand post.

Rovers were looking dangerous down the right wing and Barnes-Homer fed Matthew Johnson and his probing ball won a corner. However, Supermarine 'keeper Tom King was equal to Banner's delivery.

Dyer tested King with a 22nd minute shot just outside Swindon's box, but King held onto it confidently.

Geoghagan, who experienced an unsure home debut, was handed a yellow card after he brought down Matt Prattley.

From the resulting free kick, swung in by Danny Allen, Male handled in the box to concede a penalty in the 28th minute.

Rovers' goalkeeper Lee Evans managed to guess which way Giles Harris' spot-kick was going, but the ball slipped under him to hand Supermarine the lead.

Johnson and Dave Slattery were both booked by referee Mr Hollbrook after a fight broke out.

Swindon nearly caught out Rovers in the first minute of the second half, but Evans did well to block Steve Davies, after Hillman had allowed Pratley's long ball forward into the box.

However, from the resulting corner Pratley was given freedom to head in Allen's ball at the near post to make it 2-0.

The sucker punch woke Rovers into life and substitute Leon Mitchell was brought on for Smith.

Barnes-Homer drove up to Swindon's box and slipped the ball to Banner on the left, but Mitchell volleyed off target at the far post in the 53rd minute.

The striker then sent a header wide of King's left post after Johnson's raking cross.

Swindon were lucky not to have Slattery sent off for a second bookable offence in the 49th minute, when he recklessly slid into Evans after Pratley ghosted past Male.

Curtis seemed distracted all game and headed over from Johnson's excellent cross in the 65th minute. The burly striker then sent a header, from Riad Erraji's right wing ball, straight at King in the 71st minute.

While Rovers piled on the pressure, they lacked any cutting edge, as their early season promotion hopes received another damaging set back.

Rovers: EVANS 7, Johnson 6, Hillman 6 (Benbow, 73mins, 6) Male 5, Geohaghan 6, Hadland 6 (Erraji, 63mins, 6) Barnes-Homer 6, Dyer 5, Curtis 5, Smith 5 (Mitchell, 47mins, 6) Banner 6.

Swindon: King 7, Copp 6, Howell 6, Harris 7, Emms 7, Bennett 6, Allen 7, Slattery 5 (Pratt, 73mins, 5), Pratley 7 (McKay, 94mins, 5), Davies 6, Jenkins 6.

Bookings: Geohaghan (yellow), Johnson (yellow), Benbow (yellow), Slattery (yellow).

Referee: Mr Holbrook (Kidderminster).

Attendance: 212.

By Peter McKinney