WHEN you're down on your luck, nothing seems to go your way.
Surely that was the mood in the Rovers dressing room after this heart breaking defeat to promotion chasing Mangotsfield.
It was harsh on the Greens. After making all the running in the second period, they were hit by the sucker punch and floored by two late goals against the run of play.
While Rovers failed to take some good chances, Mangotsfield jumped on theirs to record another victory to aid their surprising title charge.
The away side were slicker going forward and hungry in the tackle, but there was little to suggest they will hold their own in the Premier if their promotion dreams become reality.
True, they were minus top scorer David Seal, but if Mangotsfield are 18 places in the table better than Rovers, then the Western Division is clearly weak.
With Bromsgrove skipper Quentin Townsend completing his three match ban, attacking midfielder Mark Benbow was forced to play in defence, which perhaps summed up the home side's problems.
Mangotsfield got off to a dream start after seven minutes as Rovers continued their frustrating habit of conceding early goals. Rob Claridge headed a right-wing cross against the post from close range and Nicky Brookes was on hand to slot home the rebound.
Five minutes later Rovers should have pulled one back when Shaun Bedward was put through but his shot was parried by keeper Paul Thompson and Richard Burgess couldn't capitalise on the loose ball.
At the other end, David Elsey and Darren Edwards both watched efforts hit the woodwork as gaps in Rovers' back line were painfully exposed.
Five minutes before the interval Burgess and Bedward finally handed Bromsgrove a lifeline.
Confusion reigned in Mangotfield's defence when a simple clearance would have cleared the danger. Bedward's shot was blocked but Burgess's second attempt hit a grounded defender and looped over Thompson into the net.
Like a team possessed, Bromsgrove came out in the second half with three points to prove and winger Craig Pountney, on as sub for the ineffectual McDonald, led the way.
Bedward should have capitalised on Pountney's nimble run and left wing cross after 53 minutes while Mangotsfield's Adam Sims fluffed a similarly glorious chance at the other end. Burgess's exquisite touch put him in sight of goal on the hour and although he rounded Thompson, he was unable to guide his shot home from an acute angle.
Pountney almost turned the game on its head when Bedward set him free but he scuffed his shot. It proved to be his last offering because he went off injured with quarter of an hour left. The change signalled an end to Rovers' excursions forward and with just seven minutes remaining, Mangotsfield substitute Noel O'Sullivan showed them how to finish with a side footed shot after Rovers had failed to clear the danger from a free kick.
Bromsgrove's chances of claiming at least a point were dashed when Darren Edwards wrapped it up on the stroke of full time with a toe-poke past the advancing Olden as the defence went AWOL.
Rovers: Olden, M Beard, Ulfig, Rowe, S Frost, McDonald (sub Pountney h/t), (sub J Beard 74 mins), Benbow, Burgess, Bedward, Crawford, Biddle. Attendance: 256.
Rovers man of the match: Andy Biddle.
Report by CHRIS VAUGHAN
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