Bromsgrove Rovers (2) 2 Cradley Town (1) 1

Midland Football Alliance

ROVERS leap-frogged Quorn into second place in the league after this hard-fought victory over plucky Cradley last night.

Captain Jon Ford rammed home the winner after 40 minutes to move Steve Daniels' men right behind leaders Stourbridge in the table.

The points didn't come without a price -- referee Mr A M Garratt from Bloxwich booked four Rovers players in a match he will want to forget in a hurry.

Only 54 seconds were on the clock when Cradley took a shock lead. Rovers' defence were still doing their warm up routine when Nik Bailey tapped home Scott Gennard's centre to put the away side ahead.

Bromsgrove pushed forward in a bid to redress the balance and the equaliser duly arrived on 34 minutes.

Paul Lloyd's tame shot looked to be going for a goal kick but Cradley defender Matt Aston converted the ball past hapless keeper Paul Smith for a laughable own goal.

Once Ford scored what turned out to be the winner, the floodgates were expected to open. But the goal-glut never arrived, and glorious chance after glorious chance went begging as Rovers grew in stature in an exciting second half.

Rovers: McGettrick, Lloyd, Banner, Brookes (sub Kavanagh 70 mins), Ford, Pope, Derry, McHugh, Bowen, Moore (sub Blake 89 mins), Coppin.

Attendance: 341.

Rovers man of the match: Matt Coppin.

Report by CHRIS VAUGHAN.