Bromsgrove Rovers 1 Ashford Town 3

Southern League Division One West

By Peter McKinney

BATTERED Bromsgrove Rovers' promotion dreams were given an injection of reality as joint league leaders Ashford embarrassed them at the Victoria Ground on Saturday.

Rovers have laboured under the idea that they can win automatic promotion in the Southern League Division One West this season.

But the gap between Rovers and the division's pacesetters was shown to be a yawning chasm as the Middlesex side picked apart a lacklustre home team.

The hosts produced their worst display of the season and allowed Ashford's strike force of Scott Todd and Gavin Smith to run riot as the duo shared three first half goals.

Rovers had started brightly and Scott Hadland almost opened the scoring in the fourth minute, when he directed Kevin Banner's free-kick towards goal with a firm header - only to see defender Russell Canderton fling himself to clear it off the line.

Four minutes later Banner arrived late in the box, but side footed Matthew Barnes-Homer's cross just wide of a post.

Referee Mr IJ Hamilton had a poor game and earned the Rovers' fans ire when he booked Carl Adams for a tough challenge on Todd in the tenth minute.

Rovers though were stunned by a quality strike by Smith in the 15th minute. Goalkeeper Tim Clarke's goal kick was met by a firm Canderton header back into Rovers' half. The unmarked Smith had too much time and space to allow the ball to bounce once before lobbing the 'keeper from 20-yards out. Clarke reacted brilliantly to palm away Jason Chewins' stinging volley.

Dyer was harshly booked in the 28th minute for colliding with Chewins as they went for the same ball.

Scott Hadland gave the ball away in midfield and poor marking by Phil Male allowed Smith the space to breakthrough the back four. Male tried in vain to make up for his mistake but Smith's clever footwork tied him in knots before he stroked the ball past Clarke in the 32nd minute.

Canderton almost rubbed salt in Rovers' wound when he met Ryan Lake's free kick with a downward header, but Clarke was equal to it.

The Rovers fans clapped sarcastically when Lake was booked for a tackle from behind as Barnes-Homer tried to sprint forward in the 36th minute.

Mr Hamilton ignored a good call for a penalty when defender Lake seemed to knock Barnes-Homer's cross away with his hand in the 40th minute. The referee again angered the home support when he let Ashford launch an attack, despite Ben Porter lying injured in the box after as clash of heads at a Rovers' corner.

Porter went off for treatment and Ashford took advantage of their extra-player by making it 3-0 in the 44th minute.

Hillman's ill-judged header back to Clarke was too short and fell to the lurking Paul Johnson on the right who sent in a cross, which Todd headed into the net.

Male was booked for an over-zealous challenge on Lee Passmore in the 54th minute. The defender was lucky to escape a second booking when he tripped Todd just outside the box after a mazey run by the striker.

Substitute Paul Szewczyk almost pulled a goal back in the 58th minute. He controlled Exodus Geohaghan's long throw-in into Ashford's box but then shot over. He then sliced open Ashford's defence with a neat pass, but goalkeeper Chalmer-Stevens smothered the ball under pressure from Porter.

Rovers were showing more appetite for the game and again had a good chance in the 61st minute. Barnes-Homer sent in a dangerous cross, Ben Porter's side foot was deflected off Chewins and fell to Wayne Dyer, but he blazed over the bar.

The visitors were sitting deep and inviting Rovers to attack, but they did little to trouble them. Porter missed Banner's dangerous cross in the 70th minute as the home side began to fade. Banner pulled back a consolation goal when his excellent free-kick beat Chalmer-Stevens at the left post in the 92nd minute. Unfortunately, it was too little too late by then for Rovers.

ROVERS: Clarke 6, Johnson 5, Hillman 4, Male 3 (Szewczyk, 57mins, 5), Geohaghan 5, Hadland 5, Barnes-Homer 5, Dyer 4, Porter 5 (Maguire, 68mins 4), Adams 5, Banner 5.

ASHFORD: Chalmer-Stevens 6, O'Sullivan 6, Lake 7, Canderton 7, Chewins 6, Passmore 5 (Langley, 92mins, 5), Cooper 6 (Fowler, 74mins, 5), Johnson 7, Smith 7, Todd 8 (Harris, 78mins 5), Deegan 6.

Attendance: 353.

Referee: Mr IJ Hamilton.