Burnham 1 Bromsgrove Rovers 2

Southern League Division One West

DUE to an accident on the M40 motorway the Rovers' coach did not arrive at The Gore until 2.45pm, to find the kick-off delayed until 3.15pm.

Burnham took full advantage of the late start and created the better chances but suffered the same fate as Rovers in earlier matches - missing chances with Yashwa Romeo and Anthony Alleyne the main culprits.

It took Rovers a little while to settle down, but they gradually took control of the game and on 27 minutes took the lead with Exodus Geohaghan stabbing home from close range to register his first goal for Rovers after Burnham failed to clear Kevin Banner's corner.

Rovers resticted Burnham to long range efforts which goalkeeper Lee Evans dealt with comfortably.

Then Scott Hadland almost extended Rovers' advantage after 35 minutes. Adrian Browne fouled Paul Szewczyk and Banner floated the resulting free-kick into the box where Hadland headed the ball goalwards only to see Burnham 'keeper Jamie Jackson tip the ball over the bar at full streach.

Szewczyk put Rovers two up just before half time after a patient build up. Hadland fed the ball to the striker, who took the ball down turned and placed the ball past Jackson in goal.

Ten minutes into the second half Alleyne and Romeo combined to scyth through the Rovers defence only to blow the chance with a misplaced one-two.

Soon Hadland was on the end of another Rovers chance after Szewczyk held the ball up on the edge of the area, only to see Jackson block the effort with the rebound falling behind the on-rushing Ben Porter after 56 minutes.

Alleyne thought he had pulled Burnham back into the game only to see the assistant's flag rule the effort out for offside after 62 minutes.

Wayne Dyer outpaced the Burnham defence on 65 minutes but, with only Jackson to beat, he miscued his shot and the ball trickled to the 'keeper.

Substitute Tom Mudge denied Banner with a goal line clearence, after he had lobbed the ball over the advancing 'keeper in the 75th minute.

Burnham applied pressure as they looked to get back into the game. Mudge fired in a free-kick, which Romeo headed back across goal but Matt Miller failed to make any connection on the ball at the far post.

Burnham's consolation came in the 87th minute, when Geohaghan was penalised for a handball in the area - a harsh decision by the referee.

Miller stepped up to despatch the penalty to reduce the deficite, but Rovers held on for the final minutes to collect maximum points and record a double over Burnham.

BURNHAM :- J Jackson, J Leacock, P Brett, D Smith, A Browne, L Brown ( T Mudge 57 ), R Saunders, M Miller, Y Romeo, A Alleyne ( sub R Cannon 74 ), R Williams ( sub S Jones 82 ).

Subs not used: A Logie.

ROVERS:- L Evans, M Benbow, J Williams, S Hillman, E Geohaghan, S Hadland, A Maguire, W Dyer, P Szewczyk, B Porter ( sub M Barnes-Homer 71 ), K Banner ( sub C Adams 85 ).

Subs not used: P Male, T Clarke.

Referee: Mr R Kendall (Luton)

Attendance: 135

By Steve Riddick