Saturday 4th February 2006
Southern League Division One West
Marlow 0  Bromsgrove Rovers 0
By Phil Baker

This match will be largely forgotten seconds after the referee blew his whistle for full-time. Between them, the two sides could only managed a couple of worthwhile efforts on goal and both 'keepers will never have an easier afternoon.

A small shake-up for Rovers with John Snape returning from injury to mid-field and wearing the captain's armband in the absence of injured Steve Hillman. Kevin Banner returned to left-wing with Mark Benbow dropping to the bench. Again manager Rod Brown went for the more aggressive formation of three defenders and two wing-backs with Jimmy Smith and Paul Moore up front.

Unfortunately these tactics did not result in much attacking play and although Smith and Moore kept the home defence busy for much of the first half, they rarely threatened.

Matt Johnson came closest on the 6th minute with a 30-yard thunderbolt that home 'keeper Ian MacTaggart initially thought was going wide of his right-hand post but it suddenly swerved inward forcing him to make a good one-hand save round the aforementioned post. Gavin Hurren hit a shot wide of the upright eight minutes later and that was it for the first half with both teams appearing to be scared of committing more than two players up front and with as many as eight players defending the effect was entirely predictable.

Having had a similar opening half against Brackley the week before it was hoped the second period would be a bit more lively and adventurous but that was not to be. In fact it was probably even more uneventful that the first 45 minutes with Rovers failing to register a single shot on target. Marlow managed just one from Adam Dickens on the 86th minute that Matt Clarke saved well diving low to his left.

John Snape picked up a booking on 70 minutes for a late challenge on the useful Jeff Brown but in terms of passion and excitement that was as good as it got. Mark Benbow and Anthony Maguire replaced Jimmy Smith and Paul Moore and a change to an even more defensive formation saw Wayne Dyer playing the lone striker. Despite his impressive ball skills, he was always out-numbered and achieved very little.

At least the defence came out with flying colours proving they can be well organised when necessary but there is not a lot of point when there is so little activity at the other end. If Rovers are to achieve an increasingly unlikely play-off position then they will have to be more adventurous otherwise we will have more stalemates like this one served up and the supporters will be only to happy to stay away in their droves.

Marlow (4-4-2): Ian MacTaggart, Seb Neptune, Johnny Gray, John Beale, Jeff Lamb (Colin Simpson 74 mins), Simon Herbert, Johnny Isaac (Jeff Brown 19 mins), Sam Shepheard, Adam Dickens, Jermaine Roche (Stuart MacLennan 84 mins), Micky Floyd.
Subs not used: Steve Croxford, Jack Smillie.

Rovers (3-5-2): Tim Clarke, Matt Johnson, Joe Williams, Exodus Geohaghan, Chris McHale, Gavin Hurren, John Snape, Wayne Dyer, Jimmy Smith (Mark Benbow 63 mins), Paul Moore (Anthony Maguire 63 mins), Kevin Banner.
Subs not used: Lee Evans, Neil Davis.

Referee: Mr J Evamy
Attendance: 158

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Joe Williams