Saturday, January 11, 2003

BROMSGROVE Rovers shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw at Mangotsfield United on a pitch resembling an ice skating rink that would have suited Torvill and Dean.

Matt Lowe and Steve Pope were called into early action last Saturday to block efforts from Dave Elsey and Mike Davis. Kevin Banner had Rovers' first effort on six minutes.

On 20 minutes, Grant Beckett curled a free-kick towards the top left hand corner, but home goalkeeper Paul Thompson was equal to the effort.

Rovers took the lead two minutes later. Fraser McHugh's long ball to Banner down the left wing was drilled across the six yard box, Thompson failed to collect the ball and Richard Burgess tapped it home.

Elsey failed to convert a Davis through ball on the half hour and Rovers almost doubled their advantage when Burgess' shot was saved by Thompson and Paul Danks' follow up was deflected onto the crossbar.

Mangotsfield were level two minutes before the break when Morgan Brookes' header fell to Adam Sim and he unleashed a 30-yard drive into the top corner, giving Lowe no chance.

The hosts almost scored with their first attack of the second half when Lowe lost a deep cross and Guiseppe Sorbara shot on the turn only to see Lowe recover to foil him on the line.

United's second goal arrived on 53 minutes. Jack Pitcher brushed aside the challenges, cut the ball back from the by-line for Sorbara to sweep the ball past the helpless Lowe.

By now Mangotsfield were dominating and went for the killer third goal but missed a few good opportunities to kill the game off. In particular, Elsey shot straight at Lowe on 57 minutes and 60 seconds later Sorbara made Lowe work again.

Pitcher should have scored on the hour but he headed over in a good position from Elsey's cross.

A rare attack by Rovers saw Pope fire wide from the edge of the area with 13 minutes left but Mangotsfield were in total control.

It looked as if they were going to get three vital points until, on 87 minutes, Danks was fouled on the edge of the area and Banner smashed the free-kick into the top corner to rescue a point.

ROVERS

Lowe 7, Cartwright 6 (sub Benbow 71 mins), Banner 8, Brookes 8, McHugh 6, Pope 8, Dyson 6, Beckett 7 (sub Palmer 64 mins), Burgess 7 (sub Read 77 mins), Danks 7, FROST 9. Sub not used: Hackett.

Att - 653.

Match report by STEVE RIDDICK.