Saturday, March 15, 2003

BROMSGROVE Rovers were beaten through the solitary goal of the game, scored midway through the second period by Evesham midfielder Inderpaul Khela.

This goal gave the visitors the double over their Worcestershire rivals and knocked a serious dent in Rovers' promotion hopes as they dropped to fourth place in the Dr Martens Western.

Following the emotional one-minute silence for Ashley Read, both teams made a nervous start.

It was Bromsgrove who were first to test the opposing goalkeeper with Tim Hart being called into action by Richard Burgess on both seven and nine minutes.

First the Evesham stopper claimed a low shot at the second attempt and then held a volley from the Bromsgrove forward after good approach play from James Dyson.

Ross Collins made an excellent challenge to deprive Mark Shepherd on 37 minutes. Then, three minutes later, the same player found fellow striker Grant Pinknet in space, but his shot from close range was palmed away miraculously by Matt Lowe.

Burgess spotted Hart off his line four minutes from the break, but the Evesham goalkeeper regained his ground to tip the shot onto the post. Jon Ford had a shot from the resulting corner cleared as Bromsgrove finished the half on top.

On 57 minutes the hosts saw an appeal for handball rejected by referee A Garratt as Dyson's shot was blocked. Paul Danks was cautioned for protesting. Burgess saw a low shot go just wide and Dyson's 20-yard effort from the edge of the area hit the cross bar as Rovers tried to open the scoring.

The only goal of the game came on 68 minutes. Substitute Aaron Shanahan found space on the left and Khela converted from close range at the near post.

Khela also hit the cross bar and had another shot go wide as he attempted to secure the points for the visitors.

In the dying minutes, Bromsgrove tried in vain to get back on level terms, Hart depriving Burgess twice with goalbound shots and also blocking Steve Frost's shot from close range. Collins blasted the rebound over with the goal unguarded.

ROVERS

LOWE 7*, Benbow 7, Ford (sub Cartwright 75 mins) 6, Collins 6, Lutz 6, Beckett 5, Dyson 7, Danks 6, Burgess 5, Blake 7 (sub Hyde 60 mins), Frost 6. Subs not used: Clifton, Hackett, Hateley.

Attendance - 637.

Match report by CHRIS FOX.