Saturday, February 17, 2001

FORGET ten-goal thrillers against league leaders, if Bromsgrove Rovers cannot pick up points against fellow strugglers then relegation may become a reality.

Within seconds of the start of the six-pointer against Weston-Super-Mare in the Dr Martens League Western Division, Rovers were behind and they went on to lose 4-0.

They initially cleared a corner only to allow David Butler to return the ball to Sean Wharton on the edge of the area and he found himself with space and time to beat Neil Olden.

Intercepted

Weston doubled their lead on nine minutes. Jody Bevan intercepted a 30-yard shot from team-mate Mark Price to slot home from the edge of the area.

Rovers tried to hit back, but several openings were wasted.

Bevan should have increased Weston's tally on the stroke of half-time, but poked wide after beating the advancing Olden to the ball.

The second half was comfortable for the visitors as Bromsgrove failed to impress, and they made the game safe on 65 minutes. Andrew Smith's hopeful right-wing cross deceived Rovers skipper Quentin Townsend, bouncing over his head and landing at the feet of Ryan King who swept the ball home.

Rovers had a glimmer of hope when Eston Chiverton fouled Sean Bedward in the area, but the previous week's hero Lee Hughes nearly cleared the stand from the resulting spot-kick.

Bromsgrove's misery was completed with an own goal. Olden saved superbly from Smith's close range shot, deflecting the ball onto the angle, only to see the rebound trickle in off the retreating Hughes.

Bromsgrove: Olden 6, Nicholls 6, Ulfig 5 (D. Wright 55, 6), Townsend 5, Frost 6, Hughes 6, Yates 6 (Jefferson 75), Burgess 6 (Bayliss 76), Bedward 5, Crawford 5, Beckett 7.

Star man: Grant Beckett.

Attendance: 367.