Solihull Borough 0 Bromsgrove Rovers 2

Southern League Cup

TWO second half goals saw off Solihull at Damson Park to make sure Rovers progressed into the Southern League Cup's third round on November 2.

Kevin Banner and Paul Szewczyk made sure Rovers maintained their excellent cup form this season with a dominant display at Solihull.

Rovers manager Jimmy Mullen drafted in Mark Benbow, Carl Adams, Joe Williams, Ben Porter and Szewczyk into a much-changed team from the side which lost to Swindon the previous Saturday.

The home side handed a debut to Jae Martin and contained former Rovers players goalkeeper Justin Bray and midfielder Ryan Mahon.

Re-shuffled Rovers started slowly and Borough pegged them back, but strikers Justin Martin and Jae Martin both misses chances.

Midfielder Jon Grady then blazed over with the goal at his mercy in the 14th minute after good work down the right by Martin and Dean Wellington.

Rovers grew stronger as the game wore on and Szewczyk headed Banner's deep cross from the left just wide in the 27th minute.

'Keeper Lee Evans got down well to deny Marsden at the right hand post after Martin played him through in the 37th minute.

Mullen's side took control of the match in the second half as the midfield four of Banner, Benbow, Adams and Matthew-Barnes Homer held onto the ball.

Banner opened the scoring in the 55th minute. Barnes-Homer galloped in Borough's box and his fierce shot was parried by Bray to Banner, who made no mistake from close range.

Two minutes later Evans spread himself wide to deny Marsden as he charged in on Rovers' goal.

On-loan striker Paul Szewczyk then made sure of the match when his low 20-yard shot flew into Bray's right corner in the 75th minute.

Rovers weathered late pressure, where Martin and Marsden both missed chances to pull a goal back, to record a welcome victory.

Rovers: Evans 7, Johnson 7, Williams 7, Hillman 7, Johnson 7, BARNES-HOMER 8, Benbow 6, Adams 6 (Maguire, 52mins, 6), Szewczyk 7, Porter 6 (Danks 77mins 5), Banner 7.

Solihull: Bray 6, Faulds 6, Crowley 7 (Pearson 73mins, 6), Mahon 6, Barry 6, Hier, 6, Hall 6, Grady 5, Martin 7, Marsden 7, Wellington 7.

Attendance: 111

Referee: Mr ME Murphy (Coventry).