Saturday, July 27, 2002

BROMSGROVE Rovers continued their pre-season warm-up with a 2-0 victory over Willenhall Town at the Victoria Ground last Saturday.

Joint managers Gary Hackett and Jon Ford were both among the 17 players used during the course of the match as they search for their ideal starting 11 and formation.

One player who stood out among good individual displays was trialist Scott Laydon who beautifully chipped the goalkeeper to give Rovers the lead on 26 minutes.

Laydon, a former Shrewsbury Town player, has recently been playing his football in Ireland and Rovers had to gain international clearance for him to play at the weekend.

Hackett said: "There is more to come from him (Scott) and we will be talking to him."

But there was more to shout about against Willenhall following the 3-1 home defeat to Stourbridge on Tuesday, July 23, and Hackett is confident Rovers will be a force to be reckoned with when the real business starts.

He said: "It was an improvement on the Stourbridge performance and we will be a strong team in the Western."

One of the more memorable moments of a half of few chances against Willenhall was Ford's long range effort, which narrowly missed the corner flag.

Indeed, apart from home keeper Steve Thomas scooping a shot from under his crossbar, the only effort of real note was Rovers' goal.

Laydon collected the ball just inside the Willenhall half, rode a couple of challenges on the right flank before turning in on his left foot and chipping Nathan Vaughan from 20 yards.

The second half was a similar story and, although competitive, featured a flurry of substitutions and an injury to Steve Taylor.

Steve Pope nearly put through his own net on 70 minutes and the afternoon was finished off 11 minutes from time when Les Palmer had an easy tap-in following a defensive blunder.

Rovers:

Thomas (sub Smith 45 mins), Laydon (sub Lloyd 78 mins), Read (sub Hackett 78 mins), Ford, Pope (sub Clifton 71 mins), Brighton, Taylor (sub Broad 56 mins), Southwick (sub Frost 71 mins), Palmer, Danks, Beckett.

Attendance: 204.