Saturday, November 17, 2001

BROMSGROVE Rovers slumped to their first home defeat for three months as mid-table Barwell scored a surprise 3-0 win in the Midland Alliance.

Parading a new green and white striped kit, the Greens suffered a set-back before kick-off when top scorer Sam Bowen was injured in the warm-up.

The visitors took the game to Rovers and although never forcing Matt Lowe to make a save spent the first ten minutes encamped in the Bromsgrove half.

After surviving this early pressure, Bromsgrove's Shaun Derry hit a dipping free kick that Paul Greers acrobatically tipped over the crossbar.

This was the first of several fine saves from the Barwell 'keeper as Bromsgrove controlled the game.

But they didn't take their chances and in first-half injury time Steve Markham was allowed time on the right to play a low cross for an unmarked Adam Davies to slot the ball home on the half-volley.

Matt Coppin saw a low shot saved by Greers and Liam O'Neill somehow missed the ball with the goal at his mercy before Barwell extended their lead on 65 minutes. Jason Percival was quickest to react to Greers' long goal-kick and easily outpaced Jon Ford and Steve Pope before steering the ball past Lowe's outstretched left hand.

Substitute Dave Lucas fired into the top corner in injury time to complete the scoring.

Bromsgrove: Lowe, Lloyd, Banner, Lynch (Porter 70), Ford, Pope, Derry, Kavanagh, O'Neill, Moore, Coppin. Subs not used: Bray, Brookes. Attendance: 334.