Halesowen Town 0 Bromsgrove Rovers 2

FA Cup

IMPRESSIVE! Mightily impressive indeed was Rovers' performance at the Grove - as has been their passage to the fourth and final qualifying stage of this famous old competition.

Their progress to date has been achieved with somewhat consummate ease thanks to a steely determination which runs right through the ranks, allied - on the evidence of this latest success - to a belief in their own skills and style.

"Better team all round aren't they Tom?" - was one of the shouts heard from a Town fan at the back of the main stand. Tom turning to nod in acknowledgement and agreement.

They're still some way short of the finished article but what they have attained to date was always too good, and too much, for Halesowen in a tie described by manager Jimmy Mullen beforehand as the biggest game since he took charge at the Victoria Ground.

What a pity it was then that two factors conspired against a real bumper gate for this compelling local derby - England's crucial World Cup qualifier on the same afternoo, and much overdue rain arriving half-an-hour before kick and continuing to pour down throughout.

Still 757 hardy souls turned out to watch and they weren't disappointed by a cup tie which - although not a classic - had enough action and attrition to make it a highly watchable encounter.

And there was added spice with several players on either side having switched colours over the years - including Rovers' livewire striker Mark Danks, the tireless Anthony McGuire and the commanding figure of goalkeeper Tim Clarke - who all returned to the Grove to haunt their former club as part of an all-round team display that drew those comments of admiration from the home fans.

Apart from the goals - inexplicably late in arriving considering the way Rovers controlled this game - one memorable moment was a sweeping first half move which involved no less than seven Bromsgrove players and swept from one penalty area to the other with virtual one-touch play, and ended with Scott Hadland gliding a header fractionally wide.

The biggest surprise in the first half was that Rovers, in spite of their dominance and superior football, failed to score. While Halesowen, although reduced to bit parts and bits of the action, still remained a threat on their breaks out of defence through Nathan Lamey, who was prepared to shoot from all angles and distances. Fortunately for Rovers most of those attempts lacked direction.

The home side did improve for a spell shortly after the interval but once more it was Rovers who gradually assumed control again, making light of the tricky wet and windy conditions .

However, as the minutes ticked by it did appear the odds were beginning to favour a replay - until one of those decisions most managers will tell you fall into the category of the inspired. On came susbstitute striker Jason Ramsay with 13 minutes to go and within three minutes he had the Rovers fans singing in the rain as he lashed in the opening goal on 80 minutes! Although he had to be grateful to the impressive Wayne Dyer.

It was his long-range drive that had first smacked against the crossbar and then appeared to strike home goalkeeper Dean Coleman on its was down before he reacted quicker than anyone to put the ball into an empty net.

Hammered home

Three minutes later McGuire delivered the 'coup de gras' after switching wings and hammering in a Matty Johnson right wing delivery which had somehow threaded its way across a busy penalty area.

So, a deserved place in the fourth qualifying round for Rovers and what a bonus too...not only a £5,000 cheque for reaching this stage but also a performance that can only bode well for the future.

What they must do now is to carry this into their league fixtures and turn it into the points that can help achieve their main priority this season, that of promotion. Mind you, further cup progress wouldn't go amiss.

Rovers: Clarke (7), Johnson (7), Hillman (8), Male (7), Geohagan (8), Hadland (7 - Benbow 85mins), Maguire (8), Dyer (9), Barnes-Homer (7 - Williams 89mins), Danks (7 - Ramsay 77mins), Banner (7).

Substitutes: Adams, Evans (not used). Bookings: Hadland (foul - 66mins). Referee: Mr E Mitchell (Loughborough). Attendance: 757