Wednesfield (0) 0

Bromsgrove Rovers (1) 1

Midland Football Alliance

SUPER striker Sam Bowen grabbed his 13th league goal of the season from the penalty spot to send Rovers up to third in the table on Saturday.

But Wednesfield showed why they were near the top of the league with a physical performance.

The Cottagers created the first chance of the afternoon when Hardip Dhanda's free-kick sailed just over the Rovers bar.

Eight minutes later Robert Bellingham had a shot that sailed over without troubling Broms-grove keeper Jim McGettrick.

Bowen created Rovers first real shot on goal, but lost his footing and sent the ball well wide of the post in the 25th minute.

The rest of the half degenerated into a scrappy match on a pitch which didn't help Rovers' passing game.

The deadlock was broken in the 40th minute when Bowen was upended in the box by Dave Wallace, and referee Cairns pointed to the spot.

Bowen squeezed the ball home past goalkeeper Kauldip Paul, who had guessed the right way.

Wednesfield started to play football in the second half and began to probe a Rovers defence well marshalled by Jon Ford, Steve Pope and Morgan Brookes.

In the 53rd minute Cottagers playmaker Zahoor Suliman hit the inside of the post from a free kick.

Akbar Ali followed up but blazed the rebound well wide of the far post. He was replaced by Andrew Rhoades two minutes later.

Suliman tested McGettrick again from another free kick, but the young keeper held the shot as the forwards closed in for any rebounds.

Action

McGettrick was called into action again on 73 minutes to save a shot from Rhoades' free kick at the foot of the post.

Wednesfield piled on the pressure in the final 15 minutes but Rovers got their tackles in to thwart any attacks.

Rovers had a glorious chance to wrap the game up in the 86th minute.

Michael Moore, who had replaced Stuart Payne five minutes earlier, played a delightful ball into Shaun Derry, but he shot wide of the goal with only the keeper to beat.

Rovers held on to record their third away win of the season without ever really convincing.

Rovers: McGettrick, Lloyd, Kavanagh, Brookes, Ford, Pope, Coppin, McHugh, Bowen, Payne (sub Moore 81), Derry. Subs not used Banner, Lynch.

Attendance 129.

Rovers man of the match: Morgan Brookes.

Report by STEVE RIDDICK.