Saturday, September 28, 2002

FA Cup Second Qualifying Round

ALL good things must come to an end, and so it was that Bromsgrove Rovers have lost their unbeaten record.

It has taken 12 games over six weeks, but last Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup Second Qualifying Round defeat to Tamworth was Rovers' first in any competition this season.

The result was tough on Rovers as they lost to Tamworth in a FA Cup replay last year.

But that the visitors were made to battle for their victory is testament itself to the fight Gary Hackett and Jon Ford side's put up.

Tamworth had more of the first half possession and looked dangerous in the final third but the better chances fell to the hosts.

Paul Danks twice found himself through on goal but saw Darran Acton deny him on both occasions.

Sandwiched in between was Tamworth's best effort of the half, which saw Mark Sale head inches over from a corner.

Les Palmer missed Rovers' third chance six minutes before the break when he put the ball the wrong side of the post after Danks had pulled it across the penalty area.

A moment of controversy came midway through the half when Tamworth captain Mark Cooper tumbled in the box but his, and the crowd's, penalty appeals were waved away by the referee.

Although they didn't create many chances, the visitors, and in particular Tony Hemmings, continued to remain a threat right up until the interval.

Rovers were on the back foot from the start of the second half and needed James Dyson to clear a shot off the line three minutes in.

But Tamworth were ahead 60 seconds later when Scott Rickards was allowed to turn and shoot on the edge of the area and his effort was deflected past Matt Lowe.

Kevin Banner came to Rovers' rescue four minutes later as he headed Sale's effort over the crossbar and Rovers were on the ropes.

Former Leicester City defender Steve Walsh headed the ball into Sale's path on 58 minutes but he headed over once again.

Tamworth were then made to rue their missed chances as Palmer got Rovers level with a superb finish on 62 minutes.

Mark Benbow moved the ball well down the right before swinging it across Palmer's path and the striker volleyed it inside Darran Acton's near post.

The visitors though were still pressing forward and it required Stewart Brighton to block a shot on 73 minutes to keep Tamworth at bay.

But the visitors made a double substitution on 78 minutes and scored the winner two minutes later.

After Stewart Brighton had lost possession, Nick Colley played the ball into the penalty area, Benbow deflected it, Lowe could not hold it and the ball fell kindly for Rickards to smash home his second.

As time ticked away, the hosts began to throw more people forward and replaced Brighton with Burgess in a last ditch attempt to salvage a replay.

If anyone was going to score again though, it was the Dr Martens Premier side, who squandered a number of chances to kill the game off late on.

The best of these fell to Hemmings who drove into the 18-yard box from the left before firing wide with five minutes left.

ROVERS -

Lowe 6, Benbow 7, Banner 6, Clifton 7, Brighton (sub Burgess 82 mins) 7, Pope 7, Cartwright (sub Southwick 70 mins) 6, Dyson (sub Frost 75 mins) 7, Palmer 7, DANKS 8*, Beckett 7. Subs not used: Lloyd, Read.

Attendance - 1,115.