British Gas Business League Division One Midland
Tuesday 3rd October 2006 - 7:45 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Rovers 2 Willenhall Town 0
By Phil Baker

After outplaying but being heavily defeated by the visitors in last year's encounter, things could only get better for Rovers and they did, albeit with a bit of good fortune.

The first 20 minutes was pretty even with both sides having chances to take an early lead. Chris Taylor had to save well from Kyle Perry with seven minutes gone and just two minutes later Rovers had to stall celebrations when Lee Findley nearly put through his own net. Back to the other end Carl Healey had to clear off the line when former Bromsgrove striker Matt Barnes-Homer beat the Rovers 'keeper.

It was Wayne Dyer who got the home side in front on 24 minutes when he had the easiest of chances to hit home with Willenhall goalkeeper James Pemberton lying flat on the ground after failing to intercept a cross from Nathan Lamey. The visitors claimed for a foul but referee Miss Massey waved aside the protests and pointed to the centre spot.

After the break, Rovers attempted to take advantage of Willenhall's need to push forward. John Snape had a good effort saved from outside the box before Nathan Lamey doubled the Greens advantage nine minutes later. Kevin Banner hit a fierce shot from 20 yards that Pemberton could only parry into the path of Neil Davis who banged the ball across the goal area for Lamey to tap home.

Rovers dominance continued with Davis hitting the post on 60 minutes and Snape missing a good chance attempting to imitate Robin van Persie's strike against Charlton that he had seen on Match of the Day the previous Saturday.

Several substitutions followed but neither side were able to get any further names on to the score sheet. So another useful three points for the Rovers and deserved on the night's play. However, the game swung in their favour on the first half goal and only the Willenhall goalkeeper will know if he was really injured or not.

Rovers: Chris Taylor, James Smith (Stuart Skidmore 65 mins), Chris McHale, Paul Carty (80 mins), Carl Heeley, John Snape, Wayne Dyer, Mark Taylor (Daire Doyle 71 mins),
Neil Davis (Richard Burgess 75 mins), Nathan Lamey, Kevin Banner.
Subs not used: Joe Williams, Scott Stamps

Willenhall: James Pemberton, Sean Platt, Craig Milligan, Mike Eagles (Bruce Wheeler 75 mins), Danny Hughes, Rapinder Gill, Nathan Brown (Danny McGhee 71 mins), Mark Briggs (Todd Perry 88 mins), Kyle Perry, Matt Barnes-Homer, Lee Findley.
Subs not used: Brett Hayward, Karl Lewis.

Scorers: Rovers: Dyer 24 mins, Lamey 56 mins
Yellows: Mark Taylor, Chris Taylor

Attendance: 341
Referee: Ms S Massey (Coventry)

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Nathan Lamey