PAUL Szewczyk's second-half goal settled a tense affair as wasteful Bromsgrove Rovers bounced back from their Stourport Swifts loss to beat Cinderford Town 1-0.

Despite creating a number of chances in the first period, Rovers were left hanging on to their slender lead as Cinderford pushed for a deserved equaliser in Southern League Division One West.

Leon Mitchell had two chances to score early on, sending an overhead kick too high in the first minute and heading Szewczyk's cross wide of the post in the second.

Szewczyk missed a chance in the 15th minute when he nodded wide of Cinderford goalkeeper Andy Fisher's post.

Delton Francis blazed over in the 27th minute after Mark Benbow's free-kick had came off Cindeford's wall.

Rovers wasted little time in breaking the deadlock in the second-half as Szewczyk headed in Kevin Banner's 47th-minute corner.

Fisher denied Szewczyk a second goal when he reacted brilliantly to save the striker's downward header from Banner's left-wing cross in the 58th minute.

Rovers though were put under increasing pressure by improving Cinderford.

Goalkeeper Matt Lowe had to tip over Ryan Dorians' 64th-minute rising shot and Rhys Jones mis-fired wide of the post after a quick break from a corner.

Lowe then had to tip Richard Kear's swinging left-wing cross over the bar before getting down smartly to save the midfielder's shot in the 69th minute.

But Rovers ended the game strongly to seal three crucial points in their promotion hunt.

Rovers: Lowe 8, *Johnson 8, Hillman 7, Frost 7, Erraji 6, Francis 7, Benbow 7, Szewczyk 7, Mitchell 6 (Daniels 45, 6), Banner 7 (Mahon 78). Subs not used: Burgess, Churchill, Gandy. Attendance: 370.