Saturday, September 14, 2002

QUITE how Bromsgrove Rovers managed to beat Gresley Rovers 5-0 last Saturday will remain one of life's unanswered questions.

At 77 minutes, Gary Hackett and Jon Ford's side led by Kevin Banner's 45th minute goal and were hanging on as Gresley pushed forward trying to force a replay.

Thirteen minutes later the Greens had scored four more and Gresley were left wondering where it all went wrong.

Let's face facts. Gresley did not deserve to lose by five and Rovers certainly didn't deserve to win by a margin they have become accustomed to in recent weeks.

But it's the result that 732 stunned fans will judge Rovers by and not necessarily by how they performed.

A largely non-eventful first half saw little in way of goalmouth action for either side but Gresley saw the best chance go begging when Chris Parking headed against the post from a Neil Kitching cross.

Apart from Les Palmer's run and shot, which James Lindley saved on 28 minutes, Rovers were disappointing.

The game finally came to life seconds before the break when Paul Danks put the ball into the six-yard box and Banner scrambled a shot over the line with his right foot.

Lindley should have saved the effort, but when Banner scores on his wrong side, as he did to win the replay against Barwell, the luck is usually shining on Rovers.

But a solid-looking Gresley were causing problems and Matt Lowe was called into action on a couple of occasions in the second half to keep the score sheet blank.

On 58 minutes the Rovers stopper pushed former Green Michael Crawford's shot around the post and Jamie Barrett fired wide when he should have done better three minutes later.

Then, with a replay still looking a distinct possibility, Rovers went on the rampage in a spectacular eight-minute spell.

Paul Danks slid the ball under Lindley to make it 2-0 and four minutes later Steve Frost, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, hit Rovers' third after another substitute, Richard Burgess, unselfishly played the ball across the penalty area.

On 84 minutes Burgess, proving a real handful since replacing Palmer on 59 minutes, deftly side-footed a Danks rebound over Lindley's head for 4-0.

And a little over 60 seconds later Beckett skilfully looped the ball over his head and home from an acute angle to seal an unlikely rout.

ROVERS

Lowe 6, Benbow 7, Banner 6, Clifton 6, Brighton 7, Pope 7, Dyson (sub Frost 76 mins) 6, Southwick (sub Cartwright 66 mins 6) 6, Palmer (sub Burgess 59 mins 7) 6, DANKS 8*, Beckett 7. Subs not used: Read, Thomas.

Attendance: 732.