Saturday 29th April 2006
Southern League Division One West
Leighton Town 1 Bromsgrove Rovers 1
by Phil Baker

A rather dreary affair to bring another under-performing Rovers' season to a merciful conclusion. Neither team appeared to be capable of taking any initiatives in the first half with most of the action taking place in the middle and respected defences having a relatively easy time. Apart from one save by Tim Clarke on 30 minutes from Enzo Silvestri, neither goalkeeper had much to do either. Indeed there was probably more excitement and action at the cricket match being played next door.

After the break, the match did liven up somewhat with the visitors looking keener to get on the scoresheet. Rovers pressure finally paid off on 56 minutes when they won a free-kick out on the left, this was sent over the melee in the goal area by Kevin Banner to Delton Francis at the far post who scrambled home from about 3 yards. This incidentally was his first for the club after appearing in 25 previous matches.

Chances after that were few and far between for either side though Rovers did have the better of the possession and kept the home side back in their own half. Leighton were very dependent on their midfield playmaker Enzo Silvestri and he always looked dangerous going forward especially when linking up with striker Michael Chennells.

As the game was heading for uninspiring conclusion, Silvestri hit an innocuous looking ball into the Rovers box, it looked like an easy catch for Tim Clarke but James McNulty charged in knocking him off the ball and hit it gratefully in the net. Somewhat bizarrely referee Mr Links appeared to mouth "no foul" and pointed to the centre spot leaving the Rovers' keeper nursing a bruised rib and bruised pride.

No more chances for Rovers to turn the game back but Clarke saved at close range from Michael Chennells two minutes into stoppage time after a free kick from Peter Clifford.

So Rovers disappointing season ends on a flat note. The players were warmly cheered off the pitch by the ever-faithful band of away supporters. Meanwhile manager Rod Brown has already started plotting for next season. He appeared to be satisfied with the end of season run taking 15 points from the last 8 matches. But most of those were from basement clubs who Rovers have had little difficulty with over the season anyway. It was the higher clubs who they failed to overcome.

Much of the disgruntlement from fans was over the constant chopping and changing of the team and making players change positions from one game to the next and failing to stick with a formation and game plan. Some stability on the pitch, within the squad and in the club ought to go some way to building for the next campaign.

Leighton Town (4-4-2): Lee Clarke, Andy Fagan (James Kidd 77 mins), Mark Longman (Tony Fields 77 mins), Sam Chapman, Peter Clifford, Wes Lewis (Stuart Young 69 mins), Luigi Rocco, Enzo Silvestri, James McNulty, Michael Chennells, Paul Reed
Subs not used: Jack Copson

Rovers (4-4-2): Tim Clarke, Jimmy Smith, Joe Williams, Phil Male, Chris McHale, Riad Erraji, Mark Benbow (Wayne Dyer 62 mins), Matt Johnson, Luke Reynolds (Neil Davis 69 mins), Delton Francis (Exodus Geohaghan 75 mins), Kevin Banner
Subs not used: John Snape, Lee Evans

Attendance: 120
Referee: Mr M Links

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Phil Male