Bromsgrove Rovers 1 Hitchin Town 2

(Hitchin Town win 3-1 on aggregate)

Errea Southern League Cup Final - second leg

By Peter McKinney

BATTLING Bromsgrove Rovers' cup dreams were shot down by two first half goals as Hitchin Town clinched the Errea Southern League Cup on Tuesday night.CUP MISERY: Striker Paul Moore (centre) and Phil Male (left) go to collect their losers' medals.

Rovers' adventure in the cup came to an end after goals for Josh Sozzo and Gavin Jaggard hit the back of the net.

To the home team's credit they never stopped probing and Paul Moore scored a consolation goal near the end of the game.

Rovers boss Rod Brown made several surprise selections, playing defender Exodus Geohaghan up front and bringing in Daire Doyle in midfield for only his second match for Rovers.

The hosts enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the opening stages but Sozzo put Hitchin ahead in the 18th minute when he prodded home David Hicks' free-kick.

Doyle's powerful shot cannoned off a Hitchin defender in the 24th minute.

In the 30th minute striker Neal Davis headed Doyle's powerful shot wide.

Davis had another good chance in the eighth minute but he headed Doyle's testing corner wide at the far post.

However, a second goal rocked Rovers when Jaggard slotted past goalkeeper Lee Evans in the 43rd minute.

Rovers dominated the second half and grabbed a deserved goal in the 78th minute.

Davis raced onto Liam Fold's poor back header and set up Moore for a well-taken goal.

ROVERS: Evans 6, JOHNSON 7, Snape 6 (Erraji - 65mins, 6), Mc Hale 7, Benbow 7, Dyer 6, Doyle 7 (Male - 74mins, 5), Davis 6, Geohaghan 6 (Moore - 68mins, 6), Banner 6.

HITCHIN: Wilmot, Deeney, Ducket, Hamiltons, Folds, Hicks (Lockhead - 55mins), Cavill, Lamarcraft, Jaggard (Phelan - 74mins), Sozzo, French.

Referee: Mr JJ Livington (Isle of Wight).

Attendance: 544.