Zamaretto League Midlands Division
Hitchin Town (0) 1
Bromsgrove Rovers (1) 1
Saturday 23rd January 2010
Attendance: 300
Bromsgrove Rovers collected a valuable point in their fight to escape the relegation zone at The Top Field Stadium against league leaders Hitchin Town. The Green's included two debutants in their new look back four with Josh Quaynor and Ryan Keen both on work experience from Cheltenham Town.
Hitchin struck the woodwork in the second minute through Harry Hunt, the ball cannoned back off the inside of Karl Lewis’s right hand post to Richard Howell who netted, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Rovers were dealt a blow in the 10th minute when they lost the services of striker Danny Campbell with a nasty looking cut just above his left eye that required stitches after a clash of heads with Tom Pepper, who also had to leave the field.
The Canary’s put the Rovers under considerable pressure through out the first half without really troubling Lewis in goal. When called upon Lewis produced a fine block to deny Howell at the foot of his right hand post.
Despite being under pressure Bromsgrove broke forward down the left two minutes before the interval. Luke Findley sent the over-lapping Quaynor into the area and he was upended by Luke Donnelly and Dexter Ravenhill stepped up to dispatch the penalty past Martin Bennett to give The Green’s the lead at the interval.
Hitchin equalized in the 55th minute, Ievan Lewis’s right wing corner was not properly cleared and Carl Williams drilled the ball back across goal leading scorer James Arlick instinctively flicked out at the ball and deflected it into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Dogged defending by Rovers helped to keep Hitchin at bay after defending four consecutive corners as The Canary’s looked for a winner after 70 minutes.
Two minutes later Cameron Jones dragged his effort wide of Bennett’s right hand post and after a good passing move by Rovers, Gavin Winsper linked up with substitute Alex Woodhouse to set Ravenhill through in on goal, but the striker went too soon and found himself offside.
Hitchin’s captain Dean Gilbert missed a glorious chance to put the home side into the lead after heading Lewis’s left wing corner wide from in the centre of goal ten minutes from time.
Another good move by Rovers up the left fashioned a chance for Ravenhill but his effort flashed across the face of goal in the 82nd minute. Danny Scheppel almost snatched a winner for Rovers but his effort deflected just wide off Mark Smith two minutes from time.
Substitute Jeff Hammond’s left wing cross was met by Arlick just inside the area the ball was looking like it would clear the Rover’s crossbar but Lewis threw up a hand just to make sure in the last minute.
Hitchin Town: 1. M. Bennett 2. T. Fontenelle 3. T. Pepper (17. A. Grinham 12) 4. C. Williams
5. M. Smith 6. D. Gilbert 7. I. Lewis 8. L. Donnelly 9. J. Arlick 10. H. Hunt (12. J. Hammond 83) 11. R. Howell (14. Z. Burke 79).
Subs Un-used:- 15. D. Payne 16. L. Lee
Bromsgrove Rovers: 1. K. Lewis 2. J. Street 3. J. Quaynor 4. R. Gill 5. R. Keen 6. G. Winsper
7. C. Jones 8. D. Scheppel 9. D. Ravenhill (15. J. Connelly 90) 10. D. Campbell (12. A. Woodhouse 14) 11. L. Findley.
Subs Un-used: 14. G. Ray 16. D. Maydew 17. J. Snape
Referee: Mr. R. Jaye
Steve Riddick |