Marlow 0 Bromsgrove Rovers 0

Southern League Division One West

By Peter McKinney

ROVERS served up their least entertaining performance of the season so far as they struggled to break down defensive Marlow on Saturday.

Bromsgrove came away with a precious away point against a Marlow side that only three weeks ago convincingly outplayed them at the Victoria Ground.

No doubt manager Rod Brown will also use the result to underline how far the team has improved in recent weeks since he took over.

While Brown has turned Rovers in a strong defensive unit, they lacked the creativity to breakdown down a Marlow side that was more than happy to sit back and absorb all the pressure Rovers piled on them.

There was no doubting that Rovers were slightly the better side in a sterile match, which did little to warm the small band of travelling Rovers' fans that had came down to watch the game.

However, with both defences looking comfortable in snuffing out any hint of a threat the game meandered along with little inspiration.

Brown felt his side should have taken advantage of the numerous set plays they won.

He said: "We had lots of corners and free kicks, but we didn't do anything with them. It's frustrating because we work on them all the time in training."

Brown brought in John Snape, who took over as captain in the absence of the unwell Steve Hillman, into midfield and stuck with the 3-5-2 formation he had used against Brackley. Neil Davis also missed the match through injury, despite being named on Rovers' team sheet.

The visitors started brightly, with Matt Johnson's 30-yard volley turned around the goal by Marlow 'keeper Ian MacTaggart in the fifth minute.

Chris McHale then acted quickly to cut out John Beale's delivery as he stormed into Rovers' penalty area. Defender Gavin Hurren, pushed into midfield, then flashed a low drive from just outside the box past the left hand post in the 13th minute.

Sixty seconds later James Smith headed Wayne Dyer's cross wide.

McHale headed Sam Shepperd's dangerous corner away in the 35th minute.

Exodus Geohaghan headed Dyer's cross down into the path of a Rovers' attacker, but no one had read the situation in the 39th minute.

The second half continued were the first had left off, as Rovers huffed and puffed to break down Marlow. Home striker Adam Dickens shot wide of the post after John Gray's cross had bounced around Rovers' penalty area.

In a bid to changed things Brown hauled off strikers Paul Moore and Smith, who had made little impact on the game, and brought on widemen Mark Benbow and Anthony Maguire. However, the changes did little to enliven a dull match.

The highlight of the second half was Snape's booking by referee Mr Evamy in the 68th minute.

Snape and Jeff Brown clashed for the ball and Rovers' captain lost his temper with the official when he awarded a free kick to Marlow.

While fans welcomed a point and a clean sheet, no doubt many were left wondering where the entertainment and goals will be coming from.

ROVERS: Clarke 6, Johnson 5, WILLIAMS 7, Geohaghan 6, McHale 6, Hurren 5, Snape 4, Dyer 5, Smith 5 (Benbow, 63mins, 5), Moore 5 (Maguire 63 mins, 5), Banner 5.

MARLOW: MacTaggart, Neptune, Gray, Beale, Lamb (Simpson, 73mins), Herbert, Isaac (Brown, 15mins), Sherpherd, Dickens, Roche (MacLellan, 83mins), Floyd.

Attendance: 158.

Referee:MR J Evamy.