British Gas Business League Division One Midland
Wednesday 31st January 2007 - 7:45 p.m. kick-off
Solihull Borough 1 (0)  Bromsgrove Rovers 5 (3)
By Phil Baker

This match had an ominous start with Daire Doyle, an outfield player pulling on the goalkeeper's jersey, as Danny Woodhall was ill. In your correspondent's experience, the first time I have seen that happen in 45 years of watching football. Thus an opportunity presented itself to both teams. For the home side to take advantage of an inexperienced 'keeper and for the visitors to defend their 'keeper like never before.

In the event the latter happened with Rovers dominating the match from the start and keeping Solihull pinned back in their own half for much of the game.

But we have seen this before, with Rovers having plenty of play and possession but failing to find the back of the net. On this occasion it was different and they managed to get the prize benefit of an early goal. It came on 10 minutes when Kevin Banner dropped in a lovely cross from the left to the near post; James Smith chipped back in front of goal to Gary Hay who easily banged home.

On 30 minutes Nathan Lamey missed with an attempted overhead kick but succeeded just a minute later when he half-volleyed home a Kevin Banner free-kick which was given after James Smith was fouled in midfield.

Rovers then went on to complete a satisfactory first half getting a third on 40 minutes though in somewhat controversial circumstances. Nathan Lamey picked up a pass wide on the left looking very offside but the assistant referee's flag stayed down, he crossed to Danny Scheppel in the box who fired hard at 'keeper Tony Breedon who could only watch as his parry bounced off Nikki Preston into his own net.

Solihull came out looking more determined after the interval and the got their reward with just four minutes gone. Former Rover Jamie Petty floated in a free-kick from just over the half way line, lanky striker Rory May rose above the defence and easily nodded in for a classic headed goal.

That was something of a wake up call for Rovers who then realised that the Borough could fight back and so got back into attacking mode. On 64 minutes substitute Paul Lloyd passed from midfield out to Kevin Banner on the left, the home defence prepared for a cross but the wily Kevin saw a gap on the corner of the penalty area, went through it and hit the ball past Breedon and into the top corner of the net for Rovers fourth. The fifth came just two minutes later courtesy of Nathan Lamey when Gareth Alborough missed his tackle leaving the division's leading scoring plenty of time to bang home his 25th of the season.

Rovers could have had a couple more towards the end of the game but it was Petty again who had the best chance when he forced Doyle to tip over a couple of minutes into added time for the occasional 'keeper's only difficult save of the match.

Solihull: Tony Breedon, Tom Griffin, Gareth Alborough, Danny Collins (Aaron Farrell 72 mins), Richard Munday (Phil Rowe 46 mins), Nikki Preston, Loz Rawlings, Gary Fitzpatrick, Rory May, Aaron Farrell, Jerome Grandison (Nick Mowl 75 mins), Jamie Petty (capt).
Subs not used: Delton Francis, Gary Moran.

Rovers: Daire Doyle, James Smith, John Snape, Rapinder Gill, Carl Heeley,
Stuart Skidmore, Danny Scheppel (Paul Lloyd 56 mins), Mark Taylor (capt, Liam McDonald 75 mins), Nathan Lamey (Neil Davies 69 mins), Gary Hay, Kevin Banner.
Subs not used: Chris McHale

Scorers: Rovers - Hay (10 mins), Lamey (31 mins, 67 mins), Own Goal (Preston 40 mins), Banner (64 mins);  Borough - May (49 mins)

Yellows: Rovers: Gill; Borough: Munday

Attendance: 171
Referee: Mr N Radford (Worcester).

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Kevin Banner