Stourport Swifts 1 Bromsgrove Rovers 1

Southern League Division One West

By Peter McKinney

WAYNE Dyer bagged an equaliser to make sure battling Bromsgrove Rovers completed their festive fixtures unbeaten on Bank Holiday Monday.

Midfield maestro Dyer's bobbling shot cancelled out a fine goal by Swifts' substitute Chris Hughes in the second half to make sure Rovers ended their gruelling Christmas and New Year fixture list with seven points from a possible nine.

Rovers were forced to work hard for a deserved point at Walshes Meadow against a Stourport side, which has dramatically improved since Rob Rencher had taken over the side in December.

The result means that Rovers can go into the second half of the season with renewed hope of clawing their way back into promotion reckoning.

Rovers manager Jimmy Mullen handed Mark Benbow his first start for some time to replace the injured Carl Adams. Swifts were without in-form striker Rory May, who had been signed by Redditch United.

Before the match former assistant manager Bernard Mackie announced to the supporters that this would be his final match at the club after Rovers' board sacked him last week.

Despite the sad news Rovers started brightly and carved out a decent chance in the seventh minute. Kevin Banner sped down the left wing and delivered a cross that Ben Porter volleyed just over the bar.

Lee Ross beat Joe Williams down the right wing in the 12th minute but screwed his shot wide. Williams then scooped the ball over the bar in the 18th minute when Swifts 'keeper Eric Pudaloff dropped Banner's corner.

Chances came thick and fast for both sides, with Dyer dragging a shot wide in the 23rd minute and Shaun Findlay flashing an effort just wide of the left hand post.

Exodus Geohaghan then sent a header just off target on the stroke of half time from Banner's corner.

Porter missed the best chance of the match in the 51st minute.

Swifts' defender Paul Hatton failed to control Adam Robinson's back pass and the alert striker stole the ball off him and headed towards goal.

However, Porter took too long and Pudaloff stretched out a foot to block his shot.

The home side were almost as wasteful and former Rovers hitman Richard Burgess blazed over an open goal after Ross' low centre had carved the visitors open in the 61st minute.

Swifts took the lead in the 65th minute when Hughes volleyed Burgess' cross over Tim Clarke.

The visitors wasted little time in levelling the scores when Dyer's low shot bobbled through a melee of players and deceived Pudaloff in the 67th minute.

Matt Johnson incurred the wrath of the Swifts' fans when a crunching tackle from behind left Findlay sprawled on the pitch. Every time the wing-back picked up the ball he was mercilessly booed.

Clarke saved Burgess' stinging shot in the 78th minutes as both teams pushed for a late winner.

Porter came close in the 87th minute when Banner's corner fell to him in the box, but he poked the ball wide. Dyer skipped past four Swifts' defenders down the left, but shot tamely off target. Dyer then released Hadland down the left but he blazed a powerful shot over the bar.

ROVERS: Clarke 7, Johnson 7, Williams 6, Hillman 7, GEOHAGHAN 8, Hadland 7, Maguire 6, Dyer 6, Porter 5, Benbow 6 (Barnes-Homer, 58mins, 6), Banner 6.

SWIFTS: Pudaloff 7, Dodd 7, O'Sullivan 6, Hatton 6, Jenkins 7, Webb 6, Sayer 5 (Hughes, 26mins, 7), Findlay 7 (Hawker, 74mins, 5), Ross 6, Burgess 7, Robinson 6.

Referee: Mr CI Dawes (Walsall). Attendance: 301.