Bromsgrove Rovers 3 Sutton Coldfield Town 6

Southern League Division One West

By Peter McKinney

RAGGED Rovers were hit for six as a powerful Sutton side delivered a hammer blow to their faltering promotion hopes in the Southern League Division One West on Saturday.

The home side were torn apart by an attack minded Sutton Coldfield team, as they produced their worst performance since manager Rod Brown took over in January.

Striker Neil Davis was a rare bright spot for Bromsgrove as he grabbed an impressive hat trick, but his efforts were all for nought as an accommodating home defence allowed Sutton to score almost at will.

In the build up to the match Brown had been talking about his team's new solidity in defence after encouraging draws against Brackley, Marlow and Ashford.

However, all the good work done in recent weeks was blown apart by Sutton. The visitor's strikers, Damien Markman and Justin Rowe, had too much pace and power for the home defence.

Brown handed new striker Luke Reynolds, signed from Odbury United in the week, his debut alongside the fit Davis.

The new partnership up front almost made an immediate impact in the fourth minute. Reynolds floated the ball into the box and Davis controlled the ball with a deft touch and forced goalkeeper Dale Belford into a fine save.

Goalkeeper Tim Clarke got down quickly to save Markman's shot, after the hitman had muscled past Chris McHale. Davis opened the scoring when he glanced Kevin Banner's left wing cross past Belford in the 11th minute.

Sutton pulled level in the 14th minute. Liam Hebberd charged into the box and McHale slipped and handled the ball as he tried to fend off the attacker. Owen made no mistake by rifling the ball past Clarke.

By now the visitors were pouring forward and took the lead in the 24th minute, when Owen curled a free kick past Clarke.

Davis teased right back Mark Wolsey in the 31st minute and sent in a curling effort that crashed off the crossbar, before Reynolds sent the rebound over. Former Aston Villa man Davis levelled the scores when he headed Banner's cross powerfully into the left corner.

Sutton got their noses in front again because of an error by Clarke. Rovers' keeper failed to punch away a corner and Rowe headed into the net in the 35th minute.

Reynolds chipped the ball in from the right wing and Davis unleashed a fine shot, which Belford palmed away.

Suicidal defending allowed Sutton to streak ahead in the second half. Rowe's low cross from the right caused chaos in the box and Owen rifled it into the top left hand corner in the 61st minute.

Reynolds had a header from a free kick comfortably saved in the 65th minute and Dyer's powerful drive flew wide ninety seconds later.

Rowe prodded wide with the goal at his mercy in the 68th minute, but Markman made it 5-2 moments later.

The burly striker rushed past Joe Williams as he chased a goal kick and placed the ball past Clarke, who had rushed out to avert the danger.

Davis was doing his best to keep the side in the match and completed his hat trick in the 71st minute. The deadly striker slid in to force Reynolds' cross into goal.

The striker also saw a header hit the cross bar in the 80th minute, before Markman converted Matthew Dodd's low cross in the 84th minute to seal another heavy home defeat at the hands of an in-form team.

ROVERS: Clarke 4, Johnson 4, Williams 4, Geohaghan 4, McHale 4, Snape 4 (Benbow, 51mins, 4), Hurren 4 (Smith, 75mins, 4), Dyer 5, Reynolds 5, DAVIS 7, Banner 5.

SUTTON: Belford, Daniels, Wolsey, Hood, Cooper, Owen, Dodd, Spittle, Rowe (McGee, 73mins), Markman (Farrell, 88mins), Hebberd.

Referee: Mr RH Smith (Halesowen).

Attendance: 312.