Saturday 11th February 2006
Southern League Division One West
Bromsgrove Rovers 3  Sutton Coldfield Town 6
By Steve Riddick, courtesy of Sporting Journalists.

The Royals walked away with all three points in a nine goal thriller which included two hat-tricks one from each side at the Victoria Ground.

Neil Davis opened the scoring in the 12th minute, when he headed Kevin Banner's cross towards goal, goalkeeper Dale Belford let the ball squirm under his body and trickle over the line. Sutton equalised in the 18th minute, Chris McHale was penalised for a handball in the area. Craig Owen stepped up and sent Tim Clarke the wrong way with a text book penalty into the top corner.

The Royals took the lead in the 25th minute after John Snape gave away a free- kick on the edge of the box. Owen curled the ball over the wall into the top corner leaving Clarke rooted to the spot. On 32 minutes Rovers should have scored an equaliser , Davis's cross hit the inside of the post, the ball fell to new signing Luke Reynolds, who lifted the ball over the bar from close range. Clarke denied Rovers old boy Jon Daniels with a superb save a minute later.

The equaliser arrived in the 34th minute, Davis claimed his second goal steering Banner's cross into the top corner beating Belford all hands down. Two minutes later Justin Rowe restored Sutton's lead when he beat Clarke to the ball at the near post from Liam Hebberd's cross. Rovers had penalty claims turned down by Referee Smith after Adam Cooper appeared to have handled Banner's cross in the area.

Owen completed his hat-trick on 62 minutes, arriving at the far post unmarked to sweep home Rowe's cross. Rowe should have extended Sutton's lead after he rounded goalkeeper Clarke but put the ball wide of the open goal after 69 minutes. Damien Markman scored The Royals 5th a minute later when he broke through and rounded Clarke and this time found the net .

Davis completed his Hat-trick as Rovers scored immediately from the kick-off substitute Mark Benbow's effort was charged down , Reynolds crosses the loose ball over to the far post for Davis to bundle the ball home. Davis then hit the bar with a header from Banner's cross after 81 minutes.

Sutton scored again in the 85th minute Matthew Dodd evaded two tackles in a run down the right and picked out Markman to fire past Clarke from close range.
Davis broke away in the second minute of stoppage time his effort was superbly turned around the post by Belford, from the corner Jamie Hood cleared off the line in the goalmouth scramble and Joe Williams hit the outside of the post from the loose ball.

Bromsgrove Rovers :- 1. T. Clarke, 2. M. Johnson, 3. J. Williams, 4. E. Geohaghan,
5. C. McHale 6. J. Snape (sub 12. M. Benbow 60), 7. G. Herren (sub 15. J. Smith 75) ,
8. W. Dyer, 9. L. Reynolds , 10. N. Davis , 11. K. Banner.
Subs not used :- 14. S. Hillman, 16. P. Moore, 17. L. Evans.

Sutton Coldfield Town :- 1. D. Belford, 2. J. Daniels, 3. M. Wolsey, 4. J. Hood, 5. A. Cooper, 6. C. Owen, 7. M. Dodd, 8. L. Spittle (sub 14. F. Hazel 90), 9. J. Rowe (sub 12. D. McGee 73), 10. D. Markman (sub 15. A Farrell 88), 11. L. Hebberd.
Subs not used :;- 16. A. Ling, 17. C. Keogh.

Referee :- R. H. Smith (Halesowen)
Attendance :- 312

Rovers Man of the Match :- Neil Davis