Saturday, May 5, 2001

AS the death knell tolled around the Victoria Ground, one fans' frank admission summed up the feeling at Bromsgrove Rovers Football Club.

"It just doesn't hurt anymore -- when you've been through what we've been through it doesn't hit you as it should."

Bromsgrove's doughty fans turned up again in their hundreds on Saturday to applaud their side and witness the end of their Dr Martens Western Division participation.

The relegation -- their third in five seasons -- had already sunk in after Thursday's home defeat to Atherstone United, but there was still the chance to wheel out the old clich of 'finishing the season on a high' against Bilston Town.

The visitors, gunning for promotion before kick-off, were a class above Rovers though and took the lead after just five minutes when Bromsgrove's defence fell asleep.

Jason Smith took a sharp, short corner to the alert Danny Williams who floated the ball over for Scott Voice to head home.

Bilston continued to dominate and could have been five up by half-time. Smith, Brett Wilcox and Voice (twice) wasted gilt-edged chances with Rovers struggling to string two passes together. Only Luke Yates looked likely to create something, but his insistence of spraying the ball wide rather than moving forward only exasperated Bromsgrove's problems.

Striker Costas Xiourouppa, after recently winning a trial at another doomed club, Barnet, seemed to have his head somewhere else and was promptly substituted at the break.

And it didn't get any better for Rovers. Smith and then Voice missed sitters within the opening three minutes of the second-half as the home team's defence began to assume the apathy of the club's supporters.

Steve Frost then wasted a glorious chance to equalise with Rovers' one opportunity when, completely unmarked six yards out, he somehow blasted over.

The result, though never seemed to be in doubt and once Smith's penalty, 10 minutes before the end, hit the back of the net to send Bilston 2-0 up, supporters began to filter out of the ground.

It was a sad sight. Eight years ago the club were the second best non-league outfit in the country. Now they face a nondescript season in the Midland Alliance.

Coach Steve Daniels talked of bouncing back and being better for the experience of relegation but for the fans, they've heard it all before.

As they trudged home after another miserable day out, they must have wondered whether they would ever return to their home from home. The club must pray that they do.

Bromsgrove: McGettrick, Watson (Sumnall 61), Hughes, Townsend, Frost, Ball, Bridgewater (Lloyd 58), Yates, Xiourouppa (McFarlane 45), Banner, Beckett. Attendance: 420.