Saturday, December 7, 2002

WHEN the Dr Martens Western season ends next May, Bromsgrove Rovers and Solihull Borough should be there or there abouts.

There was nothing to suggest otherwise last Saturday as the two sides, first and sixth respectively before the start of play, cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw.

The standard of play was low as Borough, a team Rovers have failed to beat on three occasions in all competitions this season, stopped the hosts playing free-flowing attacking football.

Paul Danks gave Gary Hackett and Jon Ford's side the lead just before half time but his goal was cancelled out by Mark Shepherd's second half strike.

Rovers joint manager Hackett, Dr Martens Western manager of the month with Ford for September, admitted his side had not been at their best and were guilty of not passing the ball well in midfield.

He said: "We didn't really deserve to win the game. You are going to get games when you don't play as well as you can but I am not going to go over the top on a poor performance."

Little space was given away in a strongly competitive first half, which saw five players, including Stewart Brigthon, Frazer McHugh and Mark Clifton, cautioned by referee S Barrow.

But Barrow could have made things so much easier for himself. Had he opted to book Lee Knight for a cynical challenge early on, he may well have avoided the free-for-all wrestling match that ensued.

And when the normally placid Hackett gets irate on the touch line about a decision, you know something is not quite right.

"I thought the referee was poor only because it took him 20 minutes to take action," Hackett said.

When the football continued, Rovers created nothing of note themselves and two wayward clearances by Steve Pope could easily have let the visitors in.

Likewise, in midfield, James Dyson and McHugh were passing below par and McHugh in particular was trying fancy turns and back heels when a simple pass would have sufficed.

Matt Lowe was called into action once to save well from Shepherd.

But the only successful chance of the half fell to Rovers. Paul Lloyd helped on Kevin Banner's corner to Danks who scored from close range with an overhead kick.

Steve Pope's caution early in the second half completed referee Barrow's collection of Roves' central defenders in his notebook.

Solihull equalised on 59 minutes and their solid display in the middle of the park was well worthy of the goal, even if it came in controversial circumstances.

A midfield through ball eluded the entire Rovers rearguard before reaching the unmarked Shepherd, ruled onside, to take the ball around Matt Lowe for 1-1.

That was about it as far as efforts on target were concerned with the exception of Lowe saving Morton Titterton's header on 68 minutes.

Brighton and substitute Les Palmer were off target for the hosts with a 40-yarder and close range header respectively.

Solihull looked the more dangerous towards the end but a draw was never really threatened.

ROVERS

Lowe 6, Lloyd (sub Benbow 65 mins) 6, Banner 7, Clifton (sub Medou-Otye 65 mins) 6, Brighton 6, Pope 5, Dyson 6, McHugh 5, Burgess (sub Palmer 78 mins) 6, Danks 7, FROST 8*. Subs not used: Brookes, Read.

Att - 483.