TOOTHLESS Rovers failed to show enough adventure to break down lively Sutton, as they crashed out of the Worcester Senior Cup with a whimper on Tuesday, December 20.

Rovers huffed and puffed to break down ten man Sutton for much of the second half, after Nathan Moran was sent off for two yellow cards.

The problems which have plagued Rovers, a lack of goals and slack defending, came back to haunt them on a chilly winter's night at the Victoria Ground.

Rovers' manager Jimmy Mullen is desperately searching for a combination which will see his side turn chances into goals.

Against Sutton he experimented with a fluid, but strikerless, 4-3-3 formation, with winger Anthony Maguire spearheading the side, supported by Kevin Banner and Matthew Barnes-Homer.

The manager also had Ben Porter and prolific reserves forward Duncan Willetts on the bench in case extra-goal power was needed.

The match made a frenetic start: Goalkeeper Lee Evans tipped over Massingham's corner under pressure from Justin Rowe in the tenth minute. Craig Owen's free kick struck the post a minute later.

Wayne Dyer's cute pass opened up Sutton's defence, but Barnes-Homer was offside in the 12th minute.

Sutton winger Liam Hebberd then held off Exodus Geohaghan and Mark Benbow to fire in a shot, which David Becks headed past Evans, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Geohaghan had a bullet header, from Banner's corner, cleared off the line by Moran in the 18th minute. Former Rover Jon Daniels almost scored an own goal from a Banner corner, but his header was collected by 'keeper Tony Breedon.

Breedon saved Barnes-Homer's shot on the half-hour mark. The lively winger then released Dyer into Sutton's box, but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Sutton's 'keeper.

Geohaghan made a timely block in the 40th minute as Rowe latched onto Matt Dodd's pass. Moran got a crucial foot in as Scott Hadland spun into Sutton's penalty area.

Rovers had a goal chalked off by referee Mr Watts two minutes into the second half, after Geohaghan was ruled to be offside at Banner's corner.

Rovers were punished for slack marking when Cooper headed in from a corner to put Sutton ahead in the 51st minute.

The home side were give a lifeline when Moran was handed a second yellow card in the 55th minute for bringing down Barnes-Homer, as he galloped down the right wing.

Take advantage

Rovers could not take advantage. Substitute Porter missed the best chance of the game in the 57th minute. Barnes-Homer's low centre carved open Sutton and found the unmarked Porter, but Massingham blocked as the striker hesitated.

Rovers were lucky not to concede a penalty in the 65th minute after Phil Male tripped Rowe in the penalty area. But the home side went 2-0 down when Geohaghan failed to cut out Dodd's cross and Hebberd rifled a shot past Evans.

The home side threw caution to the wind in search of a goal. Porter slid in to connect with Barnes-Homer's cross, but it looped up and hit the crossbar in the 75th minute. Geohaghan's header was clawed away by Breedon in the 82nd minute.

Dyer, who had a quiet game, produced a moment of quality when he sliced open Sutton with a deft pass, but Hadland shot wide.

Substitute Willetts though pulled a goal back in the 90th minute. Banner persevered down the left wing and sent in a low cross, which Willetts flicked deftly past Breedon for a goal on his Rovers' debut.

ROVERS: Evans 6, Benbow 6, WILLIAMS 7, Male 5, Geohaghan 5, Hadland 6, Maguire 5 (Willetts, 79mins, 6), Dyer 6, Barnes-Homer 6, Adams 5 (Porter, 49mins, 5), Banner 6.

SUTTON: Breedon, Daniels, Massingham, Cooper, Moran, Maynard, Dodd, Owen, Becks, Rowe, Hebberd.

Referee: Mr AS Watts (Worcester).

Attendance: 64.

By Peter McKinney