Saturday 22nd April 2006
Southern League Division One West
Bromsgrove Rovers 4 Dunstable Town 0
by Phil Baker

Like the two recent matches against Thame United, this match was an embarrassingly easy win for Rovers. It really was men against boys as the Dunstable team looked to be very young with a few apparent teenagers in their ranks.

If that was the case then full marks to them for taking the initiative from the kick-off and pinning Rovers back in their own half for much of the first 20 minutes. Indeed during that time they forced five corners but lack of firepower up front and well-organised defending by the home side meant they threatened little in front of goal. Chances were few and far between for either side in the first 45 minutes though Wayne Dyer did bounce a cross off the bar on 10 minutes and Liam McDonald hit a good free kick 25 minutes later.

However, as the half went on and Dunstable realised that their dominance had achieved nothing (and we know all about that don't we readers?), Rovers eased their way gradually into the game to the point where a goal was inevitable. It duly came from the head of Luke Reynolds, having a better match than the previous two, after Wayne Dyer hit a high ball into the box with the outside of his boot and the gangly striker got there before Dunstable 'keeper Paul Taylor.

Paul Moore replaced Reynolds at the start of the second half presumably to give all players a game in advance of the Cup match on Tuesday but it was the young Worcester loanee McDonald who nearly got Rovers' second five minutes after the interval when he attempted to lob Taylor from 30 yards only to see the agile 'keeper palm it over the bar.

However, another five minutes of sustained pressure and the Dunstable defence broke when Joe Williams converted Kevin Banner's corner.

For once the substitutions did not upset the home team's rhythm, indeed they appeared to improve it with the midfielders regularly finding the strikers especially Neil Davis, with accurate punts up field that have failed them so many times previously this season.

Indeed Rovers' third and fourth both came from such moves with Wayne Dyer getting his eighth of the season after being put through by Paul Moore and beating the goalkeeper in a one to one. Davis then got the fourth after running on to a good John Snape pass down the middle, defender Stuart Maynard and 'keeper Paul Taylor made a bit of a mess in attempting to clear as Davis headed goal bound, the ball ran loose and the striker banged it easily into the empty net.

Rovers then seemed to be comfortable sitting on their lead allowing the visitors to rally for the remainder of the match but despite a couple of reasonable chances and some good play especially from midfielder Stuart Sinclair, they never really caused Lee Evans in any trouble.

With Stourport also losing Dunstable now need to beat them at home in their last match next week to avoid the drop. Rovers meanwhile can look back on a satisfactory performance and start preparing for the big match against Hitchin Town.

Rovers (3-5-2): Lee Evans, Matt Johnson (Phil Male 61 mins), Joe Williams (55 mins),
Riad Erraji (capt), Chris McHale, Mark Benbow, Wayne Dyer (63 mins) (John Snape 66 mins), Liam McDonald, Neil Davis (70 mins), Luke Reynolds (45 mins) (Paul Moore 45 mins), Kevin Banner
Subs not used: Delton Francis, Tim Clarke

Dunstable Town (4-4-2): Paul Taylor, Ross Hanley (Ben Smith 61 mins), Shaun Foley,
Paul Covington (capt) (David Ryan 68 mins), Josh Green, Stuart Maynard, Andy Fontanelle (Ryan Quinn 66 mins), Gordon Barr, James Hatch, John Coley, Stuart Sinclair
Subs not used: Ashton Campbell

Referee: Mr A S Watts (Kidderminster)
Attendance: 266

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Liam McDonald