Saturday, November 30, 2002

A MOMENT of magic from James Dyson helped Bromsgrove Rovers to their third victory over Stourport Swifts this season and with it kept them top of the Dr Martens Western.

Dyson danced his way past three Swifts defenders with exquisite ball control before adding to Richard Burgess' earlier strike to send Rovers 2-0 clear nine minutes from time at Walshes Meadow last Saturday.

It was a flash of brilliance so typical of Dyson this season, yet it was in direct contrast to a match littered with sloppy passing and ball control from both sides.

Rovers, who have defeated Swifts in the reverse Dr Martens Western fixture and League Cup, had the ball in the net inside two minutes through Richard Burgess but the referee ruled it out.

Had it given Rovers the lead, most fans would have missed it as they were still making their way to the pitch when the match kicked off three minutes before 3pm.

As it was, it took until 19 minutes before Rovers had another clear chance at goal but Paul Danks found goalkeeper Rob Clarke in fine form as the Swifts stopper saved at the striker's feet.

Clarke made three more crucial saves before half time, firstly pushing Burgess' shot over the crossbar as well as making a double save from the same player just before the interval.

Rovers' strikers may have been doing their utmost to break the deadlock but the visitors' midfield was far from on song in the first half. Time after time they gave the ball away cheaply but Swifts lacked the ability to take advantage.

As an attacking force, David Titterton's side were non-existent, their only moment of note coming when Peter Sutton scuffed an effort well wide of goal on 31 minutes.

Inconsistent decision-making from the referee wasn't making things easy either. Several clattering challenges went unpunished yet Dyson was booked for a petty handball.

Hard-working Burgess gave the visitors the lead ten minutes into the second half. A quick free-kick between himself and Danks put Burgess in the clear and he slid the ball under the advancing Clarke from 12 yards.

Rovers were now well on top while frustration within the Swifts ranks led to bookings for John Cotrill and Jan Mulders.

Frazer McHugh nearly made it two on 63 minutes but his drive hit John Shirley's backside on the line and went clear.

Les Palmer was brought on with 12 minutes to go and within 60 seconds he had collected a through ball only to be foiled by Clarke's bravery.

Then came Dyson's delightful goal on 81 minutes, fooling most of the Swifts back line with an abundance of skill before giving Clarke no chance from the edge of the area.

Having created next to nothing all afternoon, Swifts scored with their first clear cut chance of the game two minutes later.

Woeful Rovers defending invited the hosts to attack them, allowing Anthony Fletcher's pass to find its way to Richard Ball in acres of space ten yards from goal and he swept it past Matt Lowe.

This sparked Titterton's side into the belief of perhaps snatching a point. Rovers did their best to help them by defending around their own penalty spot and the visitors were left holding on to what should have been a much more comfortable result.

ROVERS

Lowe 6, Lloyd 5, Banner 7, Clifton 6, Brighton 6, Pope 6, Dyson 7, McHugh (sub Cartwright 86 mins) 6, BURGESS (sub Read 89 mins) 8*, Danks (sub Palmer 78 mins) 7, Frost 6. Subs not used: Thomas, Benbow.

Att - 326.