Tuesday, November 6, 2001

BROMSGROVE Rovers leap-frogged Quorn into second place in the Midland Alliance after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over plucky Cradley Town last night.

Jon Ford rammed home a 40th-minute winner to move Steve Daniels' men right behind leaders Stourbridge.

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 warming up when Nik Bailey tapped home Scott Gennard's centre.

Bromsgrove pushed forward and equalised 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 an own-goal.

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

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

Attendance: 341.