Saturday 25th February 2006
Southern League Division One West
Clevedon Town 2  Bromsgrove Rovers 0
By Phil Baker

Rovers travelled down to the West Country more in hope than expectation. Clevedon had won their last six games and had not dropped a point since 14th January so the in-form team and well on their way to winning the title in style. This is how is should be done!

Things did not bode well for the visitors when looking at the subs bench there were only two outfield players owing to Anthony Maguire having left for Hednesford, Steve Hillman injured and John Snape serving a one match suspension. Paul Moore played in mid-field and Luke Reynolds returned up front to partner Neil Davis. Injuries were not allowed in any circumstances.

However against the odds Rovers did beat the Seasiders 3-0 at the end of last year so there was no reason to assume it would all be one-way blue and white traffic.

A fierce north-easterly was blowing down the pitch which Rovers had behind them in the first half and Matt Johnson tried to take immediate advantage by attempting to lob 'keeper Ray Johnston from the kick-off, it went wide of the right-hand post so Les Palmer's record of a six-second goal remains intact for another week.

After that there were few chances for either team with anything more than two feet in the air being blown around and anything on the ground liable to go astray on a reasonable but bumpy pitch.

Paul Moore had a couple of weak efforts early on but we had to wait until the 35 th minute for a real chance when Matt Johnson hit a good shot from just outside the penalty area which Ray Johnston palmed round his post.

The home side forced a number of corners and looked dangerous going upfield but the Rovers defence managed to soak up the pressure without having to trouble Lee Evans.

Neil Davis nearly got Rovers a deserved lead just before the interval when he chipped from a short distance on to the bar.

Come the second half Clevedon had the wind advantage but their 'keeper had the low sun in his eyes and for the first 20 minutes there was little between the sides but Clevedon were spending more time in the Rovers half and clearly were not going to settle for a goal-less draw.

Right-sided midfielder Leon Hapgood was finding more space on his side of the field on the 65 th minute he hit in a cross into the Rovers box which they failed to clear and pint-sized winger Pete Sheppard gratefully banged the ball hard into the net to give the home side the lead.

Rovers pushed forward for the equaliser but in the conditions and with a well-organised defence it was always going to be difficult. Matters were not helped when Luke Reynolds hobbled of after a knock to give a rare outing for substitute Delton Francis.

Clevedon got there second just after the 90 minutes when Sheppard again picked up a clearance, headed goalwards and hit an unstoppable shot past Evans.

No disgrace for Rovers but it was another three points lost. Clevedon looked confident and well-organised. The weather prevented a good match and that was probably to Rovers advantage, as more benign conditions would probably allowed the league leaders to emphasise their superiority.

Clevedon (4-4-2): Ray Johnston, Kits Whitcombe, Rob Scott, Steve Lester, Scott Hendry, Billy Clark, Leon Hapgood (C), Kye Holly, Jack Pitcher, Tom Jacobs (Mick Trought 73 mins), Pete Sheppard.
Subs not used: Jason Eaton, Craig Loxton.

Rovers (4-4-2): Lee Evans, Matt Johnson, Joe Williams, Exodus Geohaghan, Chris McHale, Mark Benbow, Paul Moore, Wayne Dyer, Luke Reynolds (Delton Francis 76 mins),
Neil Davis, Kevin Banner.
Subs not used: Jimmy Smith, Tim Clarke.

Referee: Mr L Swabey (Plymouth)
Attendance: 221

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Matt Johnson