DMW September 28, 1999

ROVERS extended their unbeaten run away from home to four games thanks to a late strike by newlywed Richard Congrave at Paget's Vale Stadium last night.

With just five minutes remaining, Congrave collected a clearance by Kevin Ashley and ran to the corner of the area before shooting into former Bromsgrove keeper Richard Anstiss's top corner for his first Greens goal.

This long-awaited strike brea-hed new life into a mediocre match. Straight from the restart, a Jimmy Tuft header for the home side hit Ian Cooper on the goal-line and was thankfully gathered by Derek Dudley.

Then, three minutes into injury time, Mickey Clarke saw a fierce shot tipped away by the Rovers keeper.

All this action was in stark contrast to the first half, which saw Steve Daley's side kicking against the driving rain in north Birmingham.

Rangers had the best of the early exchanges with Ian Jones shooting wide of Dudley's right hand post on six minutes.

An attacking Rovers' line-up created their first chance on 12 minutes, wing back Steve Ulfig heading Cooper's left wing corner over the crossbar at the far post.

The remainder of a poor opening period saw one further chance, which fell to Ryan Daley, but the Bromsgrove midfielder's shot was deflected for a corner.

Rovers made a bright start to the second half. Congrave forced two saves low down from Anstiss but the next 30 minutes returned to first half mediocrity before the ex-Worcester City striker's goal set the game alight.

Influential centre half Mark Bowater was forced to quit the action on 69 minutes because of a nasty head injury.

Rovers: Dudley, Ashley, Ulfig, Benbow, Bowater (sub Bytheway 69), Dodd, Cooper, Ball, Congrave, Daley, Wright. Subs (unused): Davies, Courts.

Attendance: 187. Rovers man of the match: Russell Dodd.