Saturday, April 27, 2002

BROMSGROVE Rovers face an agonising wait to see if they are to be promoted to the Dr Martens Western Division after finishing runners-up in the Midland Alliance.

Rovers' 2-0 win over Ludlow Town at the Victoria Ground was not enough to secure the championship.

Rivals Stourbridge got the point they needed for the title with a 1-1 draw at Stafford Town -- courtesy of an injury-time goal from ex-Rovers striker Brian Gray.

A decision on the fate of Gary Hackett and Jon Ford's side will be taken at a meeting of a Dr Martens League committee on Thursday.

It is hoped that league officials will promote Rovers as runners-up as Stourbridge's Amblecote ground is not good enough to take the Glassboys up.

In front of their second largest crowd of the season, 766, Rovers started well but could have gone behind just five minutes in when Kevin Thompson squandered a clear chance from six yards out.

Grant Beckett had a 30-yard free kick saved on 16 minutes and from then on Rovers enjoyed the lion's share of play but the visitors proved difficult to break down.

The hosts were similarly determined after the break and Sam Bowen had a good chance on 51 minutes but he fired into the side netting after finding himself clear through.

Les Palmer looked a dead cert to have given Rovers the lead on 57 minutes but his header was somehow tipped over the bar by Carl Alexander.

The Greens finally broke the deadlock after 73 minutes when Bowen ran on to a through ball, controlled it, and put it past Alexander for 1-0.

Seven minutes later it was 2-0 when Beckett's shot was parried by the goalkeeper and Kevin Banner was on hand to seal the points.