British Gas Business League Division One Midland
Saturday 17th February 2007 - 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Rovers 0 (0) Malvern Town 2 (2)
By Phil Baker

A recent newspaper report determined using various factors who the most stressful club were to support. Notts County won by virtue of being a Football League team but had non-league teams been included then Rovers would probably win at a canter.

After a comfortable demolition of Solihull, then probably the best performance of the season against Aylesbury, Rovers came up against mid-table Malvern Town. With respect to the visitors, they had been defeated 11 times this season and a best win of 2-0. So surely three points beckoned?

However Rovers were up against a side who could defend well and in numbers and make the occasional break, so the outcome was hardly surprising was it?

Mark Taylor was unavailable having broke a couple of bones in his hand so the fit again Wayne Dyer slotted into his place, John Snape was suspended for one match so Chris McHale returned to the back three with Paul Lloyd taking the No 2 shirt.

Gary Hay had had a change of heart and moved to Kidderminster Harriers so Rovers were left with just two recognised strikers in Nathan Lamey and Neil Davis.

Both teams started brightly enough in an attempt to get the coveted early goal but its was the visitors who made use of their good fortune on the 12th minute when referee Ms Ihringova awarded a questionable free-kick against Stuart Skidmore a few yards outside the penalty area.

Rovers formed something of a wall which Rik Halion happily fired over from 35 yards out hitting the underside of the bar as the ball went passed Danny Woodhall and dropped behind the goal line.

Cue for Malvern to pull a couple of extra players into the back line that they perpetrated for the remainder of the match.

Rovers now had the majority of the play and spent much of the time banging balls up to the two strikers who more often than not found themselves surrounded by two or three purple and blue shirts.

Nathan Lamey did force the first of several good saves from Craig Humphries on 27 minutes, Paul Lloyd hit the bar three minutes later and Danny Scheppel had the best chance of the half for the home side a minute after that when he wide fired wide in a one-to-one with Humphries after failing to control the ball sufficiently on the bumpy pitch.

In pressing forward, Rovers found themselves short in defence when Malvern had one of their rare attacks on 38 minutes. Neil Gardiner managed to catch Rapinder Gill in possession who like Scheppel appeared to struggle to control the ball on the uneven surface, he squared the ball to an unmarked Daniel Harding-Hall who easily tapped home from 10 yards.

The second half was pretty much a non-event with Rovers constantly getting the ball into the box and the visitors quite happily knocking out again. Neil Davis had the best two chances glancing one across the face of the goal on the 51st minute and having another well-saved by Humphries on 86 minutes. Wayne Dyer battled bravely in midfield with a number of useful passes and substitute Daire Doyle upped the tempo for the last few minutes but even they were unable to penetrate Malvern's stubborn defence.

So with Brackley losing, Rovers missed out on a golden opportunity to narrow the gap at the top. Full marks to Malvern who deserved their win and played the right tactics on the day.

But O dear, the pitch, what a state. There was hardly any grass in the middle and the edges were so bumpy it was impossible to play a long pass on the ground so that ball-players like Kevin Banner were easily dispossessed as they struggled with the conditions. This Rovers team play their best football on good surfaces like Solihull so over-use of the pitch is now costing points.

Rovers: Danny Woodhall, Paul Lloyd, Chris McHale, Rapinder Gill, Carl Heeley (James Smith 74 mins), Stuart Skidmore (Matt Hall 61 mins), Danny Scheppel (Daire Doyle 61 mins), Wayne Dyer, Nathan Lamey, Neil Davis, Kevin Banner.
Subs not used: Mark Taylor, Liam McDonald.

Malvern: Craig Humphries, Paul Edwards, Nick Clayton, Andy Cartwright, Andy Jones, Oliver Reid (Mike Oakes 83 mins), Ian Stephens, Rik Halion (Craig Selby 88 mins),
Ed Lyons, Daniel Harding-Hall, Neil Gardiner (Lee Paddock 90+1 mins).
Subs not used: Kyle Burn, Ian Cottrill

Scorers: Malvern - Halion (12 mins), Harding-Hall (38 mins)
Yellows: Malvern - Andy Cartwright

Attendance: 384
Referee: Ms S Ihringova (Telford)

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Paul Lloyd