Clevedon Town 2 Bromsgrove Rovers 0

Southern League Division One West

By Peter McKinney

ROVERS slipped to their first defeat ever to leaders Clevedon Town at a wind swept Hand Stadium on Saturday.

In a match ruined as a spectacle by gale force winds and few clear cut chances the leaders' greater cutting edge saw them win through over a hard working but under strength Rovers' side.

The leaders opened the scoring in the 65th through Peter Sheppard and doubled their advantage when Rovers goalkeeper Lee Evans allowed a shot by Clevedon dangerman Leon Hapgood to squirm under his body.

Defeat ensured that once again any hopes of promotion this season which were growing in the back of supporters' minds were quickly burst.

Manager Rod Brown was forced once again to play a makeshift side. The absence of suspended midfielder John Snape and loss of Anthony Maguire to Hednesford and Gavin Hurren to Kidderminster left him with only two recognised midfielders.

He opted to partner Mark Benbow and Wayne Dyer, with Paul Moore. Luke Reynolds, back after a week's absence, partnered Neil Davis up front.

With the wind at their backs in the first half Rovers tried to make the elements work to their advantage. Matt Johnson tried his luck with a cheeky lob from the half way line from kick-off, but his ambitious effort flew wide.

Exodus Geohaghan snuffed out the early danger when he muscled Jack Pitcher off the ball as he entered the penalty area.

Moore's low drive was easily saved by 'keeper Ray Johnston in the 13th minute. The striker also had a good chance in the 17th minute.

Kevin Banner sent in a dangerous cross from the left and Scott Hendy blocked Neil Davis. The ball fell to Moore, but he shot over.

Moore had another shot from distance from Geohaghan's throw in, but lashed it wide of the post in the 19th minute.

Johnson had to be alert to head away Hapgood's dangerous 26th minute corner at the far post. Evans also had to be alert to hold onto the midfielder's dangerous, curling right wing cross under pressure from Pitcher.

Rovers were building the pressure and nearly opened the scoring when Mark Benbow's powerful shot was saved acrobatically by a diving Johnston in the 34th minute.

Davis almost broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time but his header bounced off Clevedon's cross bar.

Despite the wind against them in the second half Rovers started strongly. A slick-passing move down the left carved out by Banner and Wayne Dyer was stopped when Rob Scott cut out Moore's cross.

Geohaghan then had a gilt-edged chance but he headed Banner's excellent corner over the bar in the 56th minute.

But the home side gradually came back into the game and winger Peter Sheppard drove into the box, only to screw his shot wide in the 62nd minute.

Three minutes later Rovers were left trailing. Jacobs' clever ball set Hapgood free in the box and he flashed a shot across goal.

The visitors' defence was slow to react and Sheppard prodded the ball past Evans.

Rovers tried to search for an equaliser but did not carve out a meaningful chance.

Davis sent in a dangerous cross that Joe Williams and Geohaghan both missed in the 73rd minute.

But their efforts for an equaliser were shot down when Hapgood was released down the left by Sheppard and fired in a low shot.

Evans seemed to have the ball in his hands but it went under his body for an unfortunate goal.

ROVERS: Evans 6, JOHNSON 7, Williams 6, Geohaghan 6, McHale 6, Benbow 5, Moore 5, Dyer 5, Reynolds 6 (Francis 75mins, 5), Davis 6, Banner 6.

CLEVEDON: Johnston, Whitcome, Scott, Lester, Hendy, Clark, Hapgood, Holly, Pitcher, Jacobs (Trought, 72mins), Sheppard.

Referee: Mr L Swabey (Plymouth).

Attendance: 221.