City traveled up the
M5 determined to make their game in hand count against manager less Bromsgrove. Tommy Callinan completed his
registration in time to make his bow for a second spell
in the City midfield, Dave Webb making way and dropping
to the bench.
As has so often
been the case this season City started the game in
stirring fashion with Hemmings and Tucker instrumental in
scaring the life out of the Rovers defence. City had an
early opportunity with Keeling racing clear only to see
his shot smothered, Mings then thwarted with the rebound
by desperate block tackles from the Greens. Further
opportunities fell to City with Mings unfortunate to just
miss out on a Keeling cross after Darren had done well to
trick Bromsgrove on the right byline.
The match had
plenty of crunching tackles, although Kemp will feel hard
done by when he was booked for an early challenge as
Bromsgrove cleared a City corner. However most of the
play was still with the Tigers, Kemp heading just over
from a Hemmings corner and Keeling rasping a shot just
over having opted for power instead of placement after
Mings had sent him through. City still enjoyed the
majority of the play but Bromsgrove now managed to limit
the danger, two men keeping watchful eye on Hemmings.
City's frustration showed as Holloway entered the book
for a high challenge.
The second half was
a much less exhilarating affair with both sides largely canceling each other out in a turgid midfield scrap.
Callinan departed for Webb having had a steady return to
City colours, but the more attacking line-up at first
seemed to merely allow Rovers more space. The home team
had several opportunities through Payne, but Mokler was
once again equal to their efforts, although he did almost
loose one high ball following a collision with Kemp.
Mings was again involved in several physical clashes with
Bromsgrove players seeming to want to make the most of
his reputation, fortunately the referee was rarely
fooled.
The game seemed to
be petering out into a stalemate with both teams reduced
to long balls to the wings to try and prise an opening.
In the last minute one such ball over the top sent
Keeling rushing goalward only to be brought tumbling down
just outside the area. City sent all their tall players
forward for a last effort, and the gamble paid off. Burns
chipped a high ball to the middle of the six yard box
which was only palmed away by the otherwise excellent
Gabbidon in the Rovers goal. The loose ball looped up
invitingly for Captain Kemp to nod in from close range
with nearly the last touch of the game.
Mokler
