Saturday, January 15, 2005

Marlow 0 Bromsgrove Rovers 2

RIAD ERRAJI was hero and villain as ruthless Rovers maintained their relentless promotion pace at Oak Tree Road on Saturday.

The adventurous midfielder had set Rovers on their way by opening the scoring, but his second half dismissal for a trip on Marlow striker Rob Charles ensured Bromsgrove were forced to work hard to hold on for all three points.

However, the home side let Rovers off the hook late on when John Isaac wasted a glorious chance to hand his side a life line by blazing a penalty over goalkeeper Matt Lowe's cross bar.

Injury to Ross Collins forced manager Jimmy Mullen to use new signings Phil Male and Karl Johnson in the centre of defence.

The duo coped resolutely as Marlow, without a win at home since Bedworth in October, piled the pressure on in the opening stages.

Male had to be alert in the 20th minute to cut out Isaac's cunning back heel to Charles in Rovers' penalty box.

It was the visitors who had the extra cutting edge as striker Paul Szewczyk played through Erraji .

The midfielder showed a deft touch to control the ball and calmly slotted it past the diving Lee Carroll in the 29th minute.

Male was booked for a thumping tackle on captain John Beale minutes later.

The home skipper had clearly not recovered properly as he handled right back Matt Johnson's cross in the 42nd minute for a penalty, which Szewczyk blasted home.

Rovers continued to push for a third goal, with Leon Mitchell's spectacular overhead kick forcing Carroll into an athletic save in the 65th minute.

The game was turned on its head when Erraji was slapped with a straight red card by referee Mr Hooper for kicking out at Charles on the half way line after they had scrapped for the ball.

Kevin Banner and Issac were both booked after a tussle for the ball developed into a wrestling match.

Rovers breathed a sigh of relief when Isaac shot his 80th minute spot-kick over the bar, after substitute Steve Frost fouled Robert Gibson in the air.

The visitors though came on strong in the dying minutes, with Banner shooting just over.

Rovers fans booed and jeered the match officials as they walked off the pitch at the end of the game.

After the match Erraji pleaded his innocence for his seconding off.

He said: "I couldn't believe I was sent off, it had been a fair challenge.

"We both went for the ball, but the ref said it was violent conduct."

ROVERS: Lowe 6, M Johnson 6 (Frost 6), Hillman 8, K Johnson 7, Male 7, ERRAJI 8, Francis 6 (Churchill 6), Benbow 7, Mitchell 6 (Daniels 6), Szewczyk 7, Banner 7.

Referee: Mr S Hooper

Attendance: 147