Saturday, December 1, 2001

ONCE again Bromsgrove Rovers were left to reflect on points that got away from them as they lost further ground in the Midland Alliance title race with a 3-1 defeat at Bridgnorth Town.

A goal to the good at the break, they lost their way completely after the turn-round as Steve Clifford turned the game on its head with a hat-trick.

Bridgnorth had been decimated by the departure of their manager and more than half of the side in the previous week, and the situation looked tailor-made for Rovers to keep up the pressure on the leaders.

In the early stages, with the Crown Meadow slope in their favour, it looked as if everything was going according to the script. Rovers were firmly in control and in the 14th minute Liam O'Neill forced the ball home in a goalmouth scramble following a right wing corner.

But instead of pressing home the advantage Rovers appeared to step off the accelerator, and Bridgnorth were a transformed side after the interval.

There was a suspicion of offside about Clifford's first in the 56th minute. He looked a couple of yards the wrong side of the Rovers back-four, but no flag was raised and although Matt Lowe blocked the first attempt, he had no chance as Clifford rapped in the rebound.

Two goals in five minutes then settled the issue. In the 72nd minute Clifford made space on the left before his shot squirmed under Lowe's body, and in the 75th minute he raced away and score again from a fairly tight angle.

In between an effort from Rovers' Michael Moore struck a post after Jon Ford flicked on a corner.

Rovers: Lowe, Lloyd, Banner, Brookes (Palmer), Ford, Pope, Derry (Licata), Kavanagh, O'Neill, Moore, Coppin. Sub not used: Lynch.