Stourport Swifts 2 Bromsgrove Rovers 1

BROMSGBROVE'S five game unbeaten run in the league was brought to an abrupt halt by a youthful Swifts side containing several Bromsgrove old boys on January 3.

Former Rover Mark Atkinson was a mini-marvel for the home side as his brace in the opening 20 minutes saw off lacklustre Rovers at Walshes Meadow.

However, Rovers can count themselves a little unlucky to be on the losing side after striker Leon Mitchell had an equalising goal ruled out for offside.

Bromsgrove were up against a side which contained former Rovers players Atkinson, Mark Crisp, Paul Lloyd and Lee Hughes.

Manager Jimmy Mullen was also forced to make a last minute change after defensive kingpin Ross Collins failed a fitness test.

Instead midfielder Matt Johnson was drafted into the side at right back.

Goalkeeper Matt Lowe's suspension for his sending off at home before Christmas also meant Ian Gandy kept his place in the starting XI.

Rovers' players looked as though they had indulged too much over the festive period as enthusiastic Swifts took the game to them.

They found themselves 1-0 down in the

14th minute after Gandy failed to cut out Duncan Willetts' looping effort and Atkin

son stole in at the left post to prod the ball home.

Stunned, Rovers never recovered from losing the lead and the pint-sized powerhouse made it 2-0 three minutes later.

The away side's defence backed off and the winger beat Gandy with a 20-yard effort.

Paul Szewczyk should have done better in the 20th minute.

Mitchell knocked on a cross to his strike partner, but from three yards out Szewczyk blazed the ball over the bar.

Rovers breathed a sigh of relief as Atkinson just failed to connect with a fizzing cross in the 24th minute.

Szewczyk handed his side a glimmer of hope on the half hour mark when he pulled a goal back.

The live-wire hitman collected Steve Hillman's long ball and passed to Riad Erraji, who returned the favour.

The striker held up the ball and slotted it under 'keeper Aaron O'Malley.

Rovers began piling on the pressure and Mitchell had an equaliser ruled out in the 38th minute.

Szewczyk collected Mark Benbow's free-kick, turned and forced O'Malley to parry his shot into Mitchell's path, who made no mistake from close range.

However, referee Mr AS Watts decided that he had been offside.

In the second half Rovers forced Stourport back into their own half but could not find the killer touch.

Jon Daniels, who replaced the injured Mitchell, was the subject of rough treatment by Stourport defender Nick Green throughout the second half.

Daniels and Szewczyk linked up effectively on the right wing, but Benbow's cross was straight at Stourport's goalkeeper.

Substitute Richard Burgess almost grabbed his side a dramatic leveller, but his dipping volley from outside the box crashed off O'Malley's crossbar in the 88th minute.

ROVERS: Gandy 6, Johnson 8, Ulfig 7, Hillman 6, Frost 6, Erraji 5, Francis 6 (Burgess), Benbow 6 (Mahon), SZEWCZYK 8, Mitchell 6 (Daniels), Banner 6.

Referee: Mr AS Watts

Attendance: 316

By Peter McKinney