Saturday, July 19, 2003

BROMSGROVE Rovers kicked off their pre-season warm-up with a 5-1 victory against a youthful Walsall XI at the Victoria Ground, writes Steve Riddick.

George Rooney's team opened the scoring after 17 minutes when Peter Sutton turned in Danny Scheppel's cross.

Kevin Banner added the second on 32 minutes, sliding in at the far post to bundle the ball over the line after everyone missed Mark Benbow's right wing cross. James Dyson volleyed the third in first half stoppage time.

Rovers carried on where they left off in the second half with Bowen extending the lead with a free header six minutes in.

On the hour, Scheppel finished off a series of good crisp passes that had the Walsall players chasing shadows.

Manager Rooney then made five changes, but that did not stop Rovers creating chances.

Walsall opened their account on 72 minutes when Jon Harkness' free-kick was deflected off the defensive wall and looped over the stranded Wyatt.

In the final minutes, Walsall's substitute goalkeeper Dean Coleman pulled off some fine saves to keep the score to five.

ROVERS

Wyatt, Benbow (sub Pope 62 mins), Stephenson, (sub Tompkins 62 mins), Hill (sub D Henry 68 mins), Benton, Beckett, Scheppel (sub Innes 81 mins), Dyson, Bowen (sub Jackson 62 mins), Sutton (sub Williams 62 mins), Banner (sub Atkinson 62 mins).

Att - 212.