British Gas Business Division One Midlands
Saturday 9th September 2006 - 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Leighton Town 1 Bromsgrove Rovers 3
By Phil Baker

After last year's dreary last-match-of-the-season affair, Rovers fans were somewhat disgruntled at having to make the trip down to Bedfordshire so early in the season. However this was a more entertaining match and closer than the score suggests.
It could have got off to the worst possible start for the Rovers when Stuart Young grazed the bar for the home side after just 30 seconds, followed by a couple of good chances which Chris Taylor in the Bromsgrove goal had to take low down.

Leighton will regret not having put one away whilst they had the advantage as the away outfit settled down after 10 minutes and took the lead on the 18th when Neil Davis headed firmly into the top left-hand corner from a Kevin Banner corner.

Mark Taylor looked to be limping with hamstring trouble and was duly replaced by Daire Doyle 3 minutes before the break and just on half-time the frustration on the Leighton side showed when Andy Fagan got a yellow for kicking the ball away. However it was Fagan who help his side get on to the score sheet on 52 minutes when he knocked over a good cross that caused a bit of panic in the Rovers' defence; the loose ball dropping about 15 yards out which Scott McCafferty drove home though a crowded area.

The stalemate though did not last long as Rovers increased the pressure and on 61 minutes Peter Clifford was unfortunate to put the ball into his own net after trying to clear a Liam McDonald shot.

From then on, the tempo increased and we had some good end-to-end action with both 'keepers earning their pay packet. Lee Clark making a brilliant save from Davis on 57 minutes whilst Chris Taylor had to be alert when James McNulty got his head to a Scott McCafferty cross.

John Snape came on with 14 minutes to go and made his mark quickly. But Rovers had to wait until the first minute of stoppage time to make the game certain with a beautifully worked goal that started with James Smith making a long pass down the right wing which Nathan Lamey did well to pick up running into space, he passed on to Daire Doyle who pulled it back from the bye-line to John Snape who with plenty of time available hit a hard shot which gave Lee Clark no chance.

A useful win for Rovers which maintains their 100% league away record, though Leighton may feel they deserved a slightly more flattering score line.

Leighton Town: Lee Clark, Andy Fagan, Mark Longman, Julian Old, Peter Clifford (capt), James McNulty, Stuart Young, Ieuan Lewis, Bilal Hassan, Leon Gordon, Scott McCafferty. Substitutes not used: Jason Haggerwood, Stuart Copson, Simon Jackson.

Rovers: Chris Taylor, James Smith, Joe Williams, Chris McHale, Carl Heeley,
Liam McDonald (John Snape 76 mins), Wayne Dyer, Mark Taylor (capt) (Daire Doyle 42 mins), Neil Davis (Richard Burgess 68 mins), Nathan Lamey, Kevin Banner.
Substitutes not used: Paul Lloyd, Dean Coleman.

Scorers: Leighton - McCafferty 52 mins; Rovers - Davis 39 mins, own goal 61 mins, Snape 90+1 mins

Attendance: 128
Referee: Mr Rathbone

Baker's MoM for Rovers: James Smith