Bromsgrove Rovers 1 Moor Green 0

NATHAN Lamey grabbed the winner as Rovers deservedly overcame a strong Moor Green side at the Victoria Ground on Thursday night.

Lamey pounced in the 60th minute to break the deadlock in a game that had been evenly matched for the most part.

However, his second half strike gave Rovers the impetus to take the game to Green and use attack as the best form of defence to seal a worthy victory.

Manager Rod Brown put rookie Dean Coleman in goal and also handed first pre-season starts to Delton Francis, Stuart Skidmore, Jo Williams and Riad Erraji. Former Rovers defender Paul Carty also started the match for the home side.

Carl Heeley had to be alert in the early stages, with a timely block on Terry Fleming as he powered into the box in the tenth minute.

Moor Green had the lion's share of the possession early on, but despite towering striker Danny Davidson looking dangerous Rovers effectively contained the visitors.

Former Halesowen goalkeeper Coleman, who had endured a nervy start to his Rovers career, reacted brilliantly to tip over Davidson's towering bullet header in the 26th minute.

Stuart Skidmore found space in midfield and rolled the ball to Lamey, who arrowed a shot wide of the left post on the half hour mark.

Winger Kevin Banner was also lively in the first half and his dangerous cross had to be firmly headed away by Guy Sanders.

Both teams made a host of changes at half time, with Rovers notably leaving midfield general Mark Taylor on. Chris Taylor, who last played for Rovers in 2002, also came on for Coleman.

The game continued to be a close affair but Rovers looked livelier as the second half wore on. They snatched the game's only goal when Lamey directed a header past former Aston Villa goalkeeper Adam Rachel from Liam McDonald's corner.The goal gave Brown's side the confidence to search for a second.

Wayne Dyer burst down the left and Liam McDonald sent in a cross that James Smith headed just wide of the far post in the 68th minute.

In the dying minutes Green searched for a leveller but were left open to raids by the hosts.

Daire Doyle led a Rovers break after an unsuccessful Green corner and sprayed a lovely pass to Richard Burgess. The striker saw Wayne Dyer make a good run but as Burgess released the ball the midfielder was judged to be offside. by the assistant referee.

ROVERS: Coleman, Carty, Williams, Taylor, Heeley, Erraji, Skidmore, Benbow, Lamey, Francis, Banner. Subs used: Burgess, C Taylor (goalkeeper), Snape, Doyle, Dyer, McHale, McDonald, Smith, Lloyd.