British Gas Business League Division One Midland
Saturday 27th January 2007 - 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Spalding United 1 (0)  Bromsgrove Rovers 0 (0)
By Phil Baker

For once Rovers managed to field a near identical line-up from the last match. The only change was Liam McDonald replacing John Snape who had a bit of a virus. So why should more a less the same team produce such an indifferent display after thrashing Stourport the previous week?

Rovers started bright enough with Nathan Lamey hitting over the bar on the 2nd minute but that was about it for the first half with neither side getting a shot on target and the home side not even making a worthwhile attack on the visitors goal.

The tempo increased in the second half and Spalding's tactics now began to show with heavy defending, eight in the back row on occasions and quick breaks, obviously been watching Arsenal on the box!

They should have taken the lead three minutes after the interval when sloppy marking allowed midfielder Ben Garrick a good shot from just outside the box, this rattled the bar and came back into play where Dave Frecklington screwed it round the left post when it looked easier to hit the back of the net.

Rovers as with the first half had the majority of the play but could find not way through the obstinate Tulips defence and for all of their possession, they never been had a worthwhile shot on goal. Ben Garrick had one weak effort in the 66th minute and headed over on 74 minutes whilst the increasingly effective left winger Danny Hargreaves shot wide on 75 minutes.

Rovers made little use of a number of free-kicks that Spalding appeared to the quite happy to concede and the reason became obvious on the 76th minute. Kevin Banner dropped a good effort just in front of the goal, this was cleared out to Smith who was caught in possession by Danny George, he quickly hoofed the ball up field to Ben Garrick who passed to Danny Hargreaves beating two defenders before pulling the ball back wide of Danny Woodhall outstretched right arm into Rovers' net.

The home side then resumed normal service rarely venturing into their visitor's half and looking confident that their opponents would not be able to find a way though. The didn't and the game eventually fizzled out after four minutes of added time much to the delight of the few but noisy Spalding fans.

So what went wrong?

Rovers appear to have a game plan and stick to it come hell or high water. Today's primary tactic was crosses from the wings courtesy of Banner or McDonald on the left, Smith on the right. I will stand corrected but of the several made, neither Lamey nor Hay made use of any of them. Secondary tactic was threading passes through for the strikers to run on to but with two markers each Hay and Lamey never stood a chance.

It has been said on may occasions but with only three at the back the midfield have got to help with the defending and for the goal this was too little too late, against a better side they would have been more exposed.

Finally, Rovers' teams have never liked playing sides who mark closely and allow no time on the ball. Spalding were no exception and Rovers perhaps need to do more of this themselves or perhaps give more support to the man with the ball. One for next Thursday's training session?

Spalding: Simon Daniels, Rob Norris, Dominic Revill, Sam Wadieh (Lewis Buckthorpe 79 mins), Dan Holyoak (Gary Pawson 8 mins), Danny George, Andy Stanhope (Daly Snell 69 mins), Ben Garrick, Tom Gosling, Dave Frecklington, Danny Hargreaves.
Subs not used: Luke Forbes, Neil Thorpe.

Rovers: Danny Woodhall, James Smith (Paul Lloyd 84 mins), Chris McHale, Rapinder Gill, Carl Heeley Danny Scheppel, Liam McDonald (Stuart Skidmore 78 mins), Mark Taylor (capt, Neil Davis 66 mins), Gary Hay Nathan Lamey, Kevin Banner.
Subs not used: John Snape, Daire Doyle.

Scorers: Tulips: Hargreaves (76 mins)
Yellows: Rovers: Lamey, Smith;  Tulips: Stanhope, Frecklington, George

Attendance: 140
Referee: Mr M Dexter

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Rapinder Gill