ROVERS lost further ground in the chase for the league title after letting a first half lead slip.

Bridgnorth Town (0) 3 Bromsgrove Rovers (1) 1

Midland Football Alliance

They lost their way completely after the break as Steve Clifford's hat-trick turned the game on its head.

Battling Bridgnorth - decimated by the departure of their manager and more than half of the side in the past week - were forced to apologise in their programme for a 'serious manpower dilemma.'

They had to draft in most of their reserve team squad and anyone else caretaker managers Paul Tester and Mark Pound could lay their hands on.

In the early stages, with the considerable Crown Meadow slope in their favour, it looked as if everything was going according to the script for Rovers.

Firmly in control on a pitch left heavy in places after considerable rainfall, Bridgnorth were often mere spectators.

The pressure brought its reward in the 14th minute when Liam O'Neill forced the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.

Instead of pressing home the advantage, Rovers appeared to step off the accelerator.

After the interval, Bridgnorth were bullish - Bromsgrove were baffled and battered.

Showing tremendous spirit, led by a now livewire Clifford, Bridgnorth used the slope to good advantage by launching high balls deep into Rovers' half.

Clifford's first in the 56th minute looked offside as Matt Lowe blocked the first attempt but had no chance as Clifford rapped in the rebound.

Rovers, prompted by Kevin Banner's surges down the left and Matt Coppin's persistence in midfield, attempted to wrest back control the game but Bridgnorth fiercely contested every challenge.

Two goals in five minutes settled the issue. In the 72nd minute Clifford drilled in a shot which squirmed under Lowe's diving body, and in the 75th minute he again dodged the offside trap to race away and score.

In between the goals, Michael Moore hit a post for the Greens.

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

Rovers man of the match: Kevin Banner.