Saturday, November 22, 2003

BROMSGROVE Rovers saw their unbeaten away league record fall 1-0 to Swindon Supermairne at The Hunts Copse on a very sodden pitch.

Rovers, who had also gone eight league games without defeat, stretching back to early September, were beaten by a Sean Terry strike just before half time.

Swindon started better, adapting to the slippery conditions, but Kevin Banner and Mark Atkinson both came close for Rovers. Banner fired wide of the post while Atkinson beat the offside trap before being thwarted by Steve Bennett.

Justin Miller should have put the hosts ahead mid way through the half but side footed wide from a good position. Carter also put a shot past the post with only Paul Wyatt to beat. Rovers' Steve Frost later headed Danny Scheppel's free-kick over the angle of post and bar.

It was Swindon who took the lead two minutes before the break and it was no more than they deserved.

Simon Futcher was put through but Paul Wyatt slipped at the vital moment, giving the winger time to cross for wing back Terry, racing in unmarked at the far post, to slide the ball home.

Swindon continued where they left off at the start of the second half with three good chances early on. The hosts thought they had a second goal on the hour when Matthews met Miller's cross, but the assistant referee ruled the ball had crossed the by-line before Miller reached the ball.

The nearest Rovers came to a goal was on 65 minutes, Steve Pope rising at the far post to head Marcus Jackson's cross against the post.

Goalkeeper King then saved a snap shot at the foot of his post to deny Atkinson 30 seconds later.

Richard Tomkins replaced James Dyson 14 minutes from time to make his first appearance since being knocked unconscious in the opening seconds of Rovers' 3-0 defeat Weston-Super-Mare earlier this month. Swindon had Giles Harris and Copp booked in the final minutes.

ROVERS

Wyatt 5, Frost 5, Hillman 5, POPE 6*, Mahon 4, Dyson sub Tomkins 76 mins 5) 6, Jackson 5, Scheppel, 4, Szewczyk 5, Banner, 4, Atkinson (sub Swan 78 mins 5) 5. Subs not used: Dawson, Gandy, Beckett.

Att - 158.

Report from STEVE RIDDICK.