British Gas Business Division One Midlands
Saturday 30th December 2006 - 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Solihull Borough 0 Bromsgrove Rovers 1
By Phil Baker

Abandoned due to waterlogged pitch after 64 minutes

With several matches already postponed, fans arriving at Damson Park with the rain coming steadily down were surprised that the game was still on but once the players were out on the pitch it was obvious that it was playable. Full marks to the groundsmen and presumably to the drainage system.

However as the first half went on, so the volume of rain increased and by the time the second half was 19 minutes old the ball was disappearing into large puddles of water and there appeared to be no disagreement when referee Mr Radford called a halt to proceeedings.

Unlucky for Rovers who were leading at that point and had dominated much of the match.

Nathan Lamey scored the only goal on 24 minutes when he headed in a Scott Stamps cross from the left wing at the far post.

Solihull came out of the blocks quicker and pinned Rovers back in their own half for the first 10 minutes. Indeed they could have taken the lead after three when former Rover Jamie Petty hit a James Byrne free-kick on to the bar from 25 yards out. However, once Rovers found their rhythm, the home ream seldom got within a dozen yards of the away goal mouth and were reduced to a handful of long range efforts.

Rovers soaked up the early pressure well and Rapinder Gill making his debut gave a good account of himself despite being faced by two useful strikers in the form of Aaron Farrell and Rory May.

Solihull: Tony Breedon, Gary Moran, Steve Ruck, Phil Rowe, Richard Munday,
Michael Crawford, Jerome Grandison, Jack Byrne, Rory May, Aaron Farrell, Jamie Petty (capt).
Subs: Delton Francis, Ian Wood, Tom Griffin, Danny Collins, Nick Mowl

Rovers: James Coates, James Smith, Rapinder Gill, John Snape, Carl Heeley,
Stuart Skidmore, Liam McDonald, Mark Taylor (capt), Nathan Lamey, Gary Hay,
Scott Stamps.
Subs not used: Daire Doyle, Chris McHale, Danny Scheppell, Paul Lloyd

Scorers: Rovers - Lamey (24 mins)
Yellows: Rovers: Snape, Smith

Attendance: 312
Referee: Mr N Radford (Worcester).

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Liam McDonald