Saturday, February 10, 2001

LEE Hughes hit a hat-trick for Bromsgrove Rovers as they scraped a remarkable 5-5 draw with Bilston Town, knocking them off the top of the Dr Martens League Western Division in the process.

In a sensational finish, Hughes, signed the day before from Rugby United, scored two injury-time penalties to stun the home side and grab a vital point for the Greens.

The match began in the usual way for Rovers, conceding an early goal with just eight minutes gone.

Rebound

Danny Williams fired the ball past Neil Olden after a rebound fell straight into his path.

The lead lasted seven minutes when Worcester City loan signing Chris Jefferson converted John Humphreys' near post corner to put Bromsgrove level.

Bilston regained the advantage four minutes later when Williams latched on to a through ball from Lee Rollason and as the ball bounced over Olden's head, ex-Worcester player Williams had the easiest of finishes to make.

The game looked to be out of sight with half an hour gone when Rollason's 20-yard shot went past Steve Ulfig's despairing clearance and through the legs of Olden for an embarrassing goal.

The introduction of Dean Wright right on half-time made an instant impact as he brought Rovers back into the game on 48 minutes. Wright guided the ball home from the edge of the area after Bilston's defence failed to clear the danger and his perfectly-crafted effort went in off the post.

Hughes grabbed his first goal of the game to level the scores when he pounced on Luke Yates' floated free kick.

Scott Voice put Bilston back in front when he headed home at the far post from Rollason's left-wing cross. It looked all over when Leon Jackson finished at the second attempt after his first shot had been blocked on the line.

But Hughes re-wrote the script deep into injury time with two spot-kicks after Bilston's indiscipline got the better of them.

Rovers: Olden 6, Bayliss 6, Ulfig 6, Yates 7, S Frost 6, Hughes 8, Humphreys 7 (Nicholls 88), Burgess 6, Jefferson 6 (D Wright 43, 6, Padmore 66, 6), Crawford 7, Beckett 7.

H Star man: Lee Hughes.

Attendance: 217.