Bromsgrove Rovers (0) 1 Oadby Town (1) 1

Midland Football Alliance

ON a Saturday when promotion contenders Stratford and Stourbridge both won, Rovers could only draw with their Leicestershire opponents.

A point is all they really deserved too. Oadby, top of the table at the start of play, took the game to their visitors and deservedly took a half time lead.

They hinted their goalscoring prowess after 12 minutes when Rovers keeper Matt Lowe had to be at his best to tip over an angled drive from Curtis Warner.

Meanwhile, Rovers strikers Les Palmer and Sam Bowen looked distinctly frustrated by the lack of support from midfield.

It was no surprise then, that Oadby went a goal up after 20 minutes. Glyn Horner unleashed a fierce daisy-cutter from 35 yards which beat the outstretched hand of Lowe and nestled in the right hand corner of the net.

The goal rocked Bromsgrove and they finally decided to come out and play, Frazer McHugh's volley darting just wide off Gordon Lynch's right wing centre.

Curtis Warner should have put Oadby two up but he blazed the ball over following another good move. James Milles spurned a similar chance moments later.

Bromsgrove came out in the second half with more determination, and Bowen should have done better after dispossessing Richard Gale.

But the ace marksman made no mistake minutes later when he tucked away his 12th league goal of the season, taking him to the top of the league's scoring charts in the process.

Bowen jinked past one defender before swerving the ball round Oadby keeper Richard Hylands.

New signing from Evesham United Stuart Payne came on as a substitute and showed glimpses of what he has to offer as chances went begging at both ends.

But Oadby were well worth their point and could have won but for late misses from Warner and Milles as a draw proved to be a fair result.

Rovers: Lowe, Lynch (sub Porter 73 mins), Lloyd, Brookes, Ford, Pope, Licata, McHugh (sub Banner 68 mins), Bowen, Palmer (sub Payne 73 mins), Kavanagh.

Attendance: 267. Rovers man of the match: Sam Bowen. Report by CHRIS VAUGHAN.