Zamaretto League Midlands Division
Bromsgrove Rovers (0) 0
Chesham United (0) 0
Saturday 15th August 2009
Attendance: - 367
The season kicked off at The Victoria Ground with a well observed minute’s silence for Robbie Laws (Ex-Rovers ball boy and supporter who was killed in Afghanistan).
Bromsgrove started brightly against Chesham (who are favourites for promotion). In the 8th minute a Kevin Banner corner was partially cleared by the Chesham defence, but Cameron Jones whipped the ball back into the area but the resulting header from Joshua McKenzie flashed wide of the left hand upright.
Rovers continued to press and on 23 minutes, Luke Darby produced a delightful right wing cross which was met by an unmarked McKenzie but the striker directed his header off target. Five minutes later, McKenzie pulled the ball back from the by-line, the ball was cleared from the onrushing Banner, the winger retrieved the loose ball and put the ball back into the area and McKenzie under pressure put his header wide.
On the half hour Rovers goalkeeper Karl Lewis was called upon to clear his lines as he came through a crowd at the near post to punch clear a Chesham corner.
Dexter Ravenhill on the left hand side of the area fired an effort past the angle of post and bar in the 39th minute after a swift break by Rovers.
Chesham came into the game after a lack lustre first half. A free-kick into the Rovers area saw Darrell Cox head wide after escaping his marker two minutes after the restart.
Banner’s cross in the 63rd minute was partially cleared and Jones headed the awkwardly bouncing ball over Richard Hayward in goal only to see it bounce back off the crossbar. Three minutes later Jemiah Richards broke forward from defence up the left and crossed for substitute Danny Campbell who lost his footing at the vital moment and lost the chance.
Chesham began to press and Michael Bardle fired over from the edge of the area in the 69th minute. Two minutes later Lewis missed a Chesham corner and substitute Leon Archer headed the ball downwards but luckily for Rovers the ball bounced up and over the crossbar.
In the 74th minute Campbell’s 20 yard effort just cleared the Chesham crossbar after running onto McKenzie’s through ball. Ten minutes later Banner beat the Chesham offside trap and crossed for Campbell, who was only inches away of making a connection in front of goal.
Two minutes into time added on by the match official with Rovers appealing for a penalty Chesham broke quickly Lewis rushed out to clear but was beaten to the ball by Archer who was the sent sprawling on the edge of the area. The referee reached for his pocket and Lewis was relieved to see only the yellow card shown. John Kyriacou wasted the final effort and both teams had to settle for honours shared.
Bromsgrove Rovers: - 1 K. Lewis 2. L. Darby 3. J. Hancox (15. R. Gill 65) 4. M. Gardiner 5. J. Richards 6. M. Walters 7. C. Jones (14. L. Findley 78) 8. P. Lloyd 9. J. McKenzie 10. D. Ravenhill (12. D. Campbell 57) 11. K. Banner.
Subs Un-used:- 16. G. Ray 17. J. Snape
Chesham United: - 1. R. Hayward 2. J. Kyriacou 3. N. Leach 4. O. Adedeji (15. S. Ledger 62) 5. D. Talbot 6. M. Lambert 7. D. Fotheringham 8. D. Hicks (12. L. Archer 71) 9. D. Burnell 10. D. Cox (14. C. Bangura 79) 11. M. Bardle.
Subs Un-used:- 16. L. Laws 17. K. Cotton
Referee: - Mr A. J. Horton (Wolverhampton)
Steve Riddick |