British Gas Business League Division One Midland
Tuesday 16th January 2007 - 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Rovers 3 (3) Bishops Cleeve 3 (1)
By Phil Baker

Another woeful performance by Rovers in the second half cost them two points after having a comfortable lead at half-time. The visitors had the slower start though and found themselves a goal behind after just 3 minutes when Sam Avery made a dreadful clearance to Nathan Lamey who gratefully thundered the ball back on a half-volley giving 'keeper Jon Skeen no chance.

Luke Corbett had a couple of reasonable chances for Bishops Cleeve but it was Rovers who doubled their advantage on the 17th minute when John Snape passed out to Kevin Banner on the right, the defence never moved thinking the winger was offside but with just the 'keeper to beat, he did that quite comfortably sliding the ball under Skeen.

James Coates did well to save in a couple of one-to-one situations but misjudged a corner on 21 minutes allowing John Wyatt to get one back for the Villagers when he headed in from a corner.

Rovers managed to restore their lead just a couple of minutes later after Stuart Skidmore was fouled just outside the penalty area. Kevin Banner took the resulting free-kick curling the ball over the wall into the top right hand corner. It is a pity that they cannot always take advantage of set pieces in this fashion.

The home side continued their dominance of the half despite playing uphill and were unfortunate not to get a penalty when Jai Libury a pacy striker on loan from Hereford United, got behind the defence and put in a good cross to Nathan Lamey who appeared to be pushed before he made contact.

Kevin Banner picked up a thigh injury and never returned for the second half and after the break Bishops Cleeve came out looking more determined and showing some aggression. This paid off on the 51st minute when Andy Tucker beat Chris McHale to put in a good square pass that Luke Corbett easily converted.

Rovers were really on the back foot now and as with the match against Willenhall appeared to lack any initiative or imagination in the last third of the field and although it was a lucky equaliser for the team from Gloucestershire it was no more than they deserved when Richard Mansell took a free kick wide on the left. He hit it from about 40 yards out; it evaded everybody in the box and went into the corner of the net. James Coates will probably be blamed for not getting to it but in fairness somebody would normally get a touch.

Both teams pushed for the winner and although the visitors had the better of the play, Rovers had the closest chance when Nathan Lamey fired over the bar on 76 minutes when it was probably easier to score. That just about summed up the second half for the home side.

Rovers: James Coates, Paul Lloyd, Chris McHale, Rapinder Gill, Carl Heeley, John Snape (Mark Taylor 75 mins), Stuart Skidmore, Danny Scheppel, Nathan Lamey, Jai Libury (Daire Doyle 64 mins), Kevin Banner (Matty Hall 46 mins).
Subs not used: Liam McDonald, Gary Hay.

Barton Rovers: Jon Skeen, Sam Avery, Dan Avery, Mike Rhodes, John Wyatt, Andy Tucker (capt), Nick Williams, Richard Mansell (James Bayliffe 84 mins), Luke Corbett,
James Vercesi (Lee Davis 80 mins), Matt Collins.
Subs not used: Joe Egleton, Adam Rogers, Demitar Demitriov.

Scorers: Bromsgrove: Lamey (3 mins), Banner (17 mins, 23 mins)
Bishops Cleeve: Wyatt (21 mins), Corbett (51 mins), Mansell (72 mins)

Attendance: 235
Referee: Mr S J Ruston (Stoke-on-Trent)

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Rapinder Gill