BROMSGROVE Rovers overcame a hard working Yate Town team by the odd goal in five to claim three points at the Victoria Ground.

Despite missing Dave Benton, Richard Tomkins, Mark Benbow and James Dyson, Rovers made a dream start, scoring with their first attack. Pressure on the Yate defence led to a Steve Pope glancing header on three minutes after a neat Danny Scheppel free-kick.

Paul Szewczyk almost doubled the lead six minutes later, but an excellent save from Tony Court turned his effort over the bar.

The visitors should have been level when Andy Neal exchanged passes with Matty Rawlins, played a ball to Tony Bennett, who drifted a shot wide.

Goalkeeper Court was quickly in action at the other end, saving at Mark Atkinson's feet on 27 minutes and saving a Szewczyk drive a minute later.

Yate were level on 33 minutes when Steve Frost failed to clear under pressure from Neal wide on the left. Paul Wyatt rushed out from goal allowing Neal to coolly slot the ball home.

Rovers made an equally dramatic start to the second half. Man of the match Steve Hillman won a corner, which Kevin Banner sent over and Szewczyk met it with a bullet header to restore the lead on 50 minutes.

Yate would have been level six minutes later but for Hillman's goal line clearance after Wyatt was left stranded by Bennett's overhead kick.

Bromsgrove began to attack freely and in one such move Banner had an effort brilliantly tipped away by Court.

Another mistake from Steve Frost let in Town's Mike Wyatt with 11 minutes left but Rovers goalkeeper pushed the ball onto the crossbar and Pope hacked it to safety.

Rovers extended their lead two minutes later when Chris Dawson's ball into Atkinson saw the youngster hammer it past a helpless Court.

Substitute Steve Ruck headed over from close range as Rovers pressed for more goals, but it was Yate who ended the scoring. Bennett's shot was saved by Wyatt but he could do nothing to stop Paul Matheringham from stabbing the rebound in from six yards.

ROVERS

Wyatt 6, Frost 5, HILLMAN 9*, Pope 8, Hughes 6, Beckett 7 (sub Ruck 82 mins), Dawson 6, Scheppel 7, Szewczyk 7, Banner 6, Atkinson 7. Subs not used: Gandy, Jackson, Langford, Hill.

Att - 378.

Report from BRIAN PERRY.