British Gas Business League Division One Midland
Saturday 20th January 2007 - 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Rovers 5 (2) Stourport Swifts 0 (0)
By Phil Baker

How often one incident can change the course of a match? What looked like a fairly even match for all but five minutes of the first half swung dramatically when Mark Taylor made a lunge well into the Stourport penalty area. He appeared to be going over but referee Mr Sinclair decided Richard Langford was to blame for a rough tackle and blew for a penalty. Cue for Neil Manton to go ballistic at the referee getting a second yellow for his trouble and an early shower, the first coming on 24 minutes when he pulled down Gary Hay just outside the box. Kevin Banner duly despatched the spot kick.

Up to then Paul Evans had done well keeping out Nathan Lamey on a couple of occasions whilst at the other end, the Stourport midfield were getting good balls through to their forwards but they failed to take advantage.

John Snape doubled the home side's advantage just before the interval when he got into the box unmarked and easily converted Danny Scheppel's cross from the left.

Nathan Lamey headed in the third on 56 minutes and Chris McHale got the last touch when Carl Heeley nodded on Kevin Banner's cross ten minutes later. Nathan Lamey banged in his 24th of the season a minute into added time to stay in pole position for league goals scored.

A return to form for Rovers who played well for their win and were probably grateful for the bit of good fortune which turned the game. However that should not detract from a number of useful performances particularly from Rapinder Gill (again) and the best we have seen of Danny Scheppel since he returned to the Victoria Ground. Danny Woodhall appeared to be confident in goal though in fairness he was not greatly tested. Unfortunate to see James Coates going back to Worcester and more surprising that Rod Brown should criticise him so publicly, it is unusual for a manager to that and I wonder if there was more to this business that the young goalkeeper losing his form and confidence.

Stourport will consider the five-goal deficit flattered their opponents, as they looked good at times. It might have been worse had it not been for goalkeeper Paul Evans making a number of good stops. Former Rover Steve Frost looked comfortable playing wide at the back and interesting to see another Victoria Ground resident in Stuart Payne come on as sub. Not that long ago he was putting in some superb performances in a green and white shirt.

Rovers: Danny Woodhall, James Smith (Paul Lloyd 63 mins), Chris McHale, Rapinder Gill, Carl Heeley, John Snape (Daire Doyle 67 mins), Danny Scheppel, Mark Taylor,
Nathan Lamey, Gary Hay (Neil Davis 58 mins), Kevin Banner.
Subs: Liam McDonald.

Swifts: Paul Evans, Richard Langford, Adam Robinson, Neil Manton, Dan Harvey,
Steve Frost, Craig Webb, Matt Graham (Daniel Upton 82 mins), Dean Curtis (Stuart Payne 80 mins), Michael Heath, Dan Ludlow.
Subs not used: Matt Aubrey, Lee Walker, Paul Edwards

Scorers: Bromsgrove: Banner (40 mins pen), Snape (45 mins), Lamey (55, 90+1 mins), McHale (69 mins)

Yellows: Rovers: Scheppel, Hay
Reds: Swifts: Manton
Attendance: 272

Referee: Mr L Sinclair (Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Baker's MoM for Rovers: Danny Scheppel