Webb off again in tight tussle.
Crawley Town 1(1) Bromsgrove Rovers 1(0)
Southern League Premier Division
Another late goal gave Rovers a point in their Beazer Homes League premier Division clash with Crawley Town at Town Mead.
The draw, which puts Rovers in eigth position, means that they have drawn eight out of 13 starts this season, as they battled back from an early goal and another sending off.
Top of the table Crawley went into a fifth minute lead when midfielder Cliff Cant walked up to a free kick on the edge of the area to place tha ball into the top right hand corner, giving Attwood no chance.
Rovers matched their opponents in every department and came into the first half in the final 20 minutes, with Paul Webb's chipped shot deceiving everybody, and Town's keeper Moseley had to back pedal to tip the ball on to the crossbar.
Rovers went into the interval 1-0 down, but started the second half with a much more positive attitude and Chris Hanks' glancing header was inches wide from Paul Webb's cross minutes into the second half.
Phil Mullen and Pat Lynch took a gamble by making a double substitution in the 74th. minute, bringing off Rovers' joint top scorer Mark Rosegreen and Russell Parmenter, and introduced Martin Hallam and Tony Costello, for their first taste of firstteam football this season.
But only four minuted later Rovers were down to ten men, when Paul Webb had his second early bath in three games when he threw the ball away. The referee had no hesitation but to send the midfielder off after he was booked in the first half for a petty foul.
Rovers fought back from this setback, and equalised inthe 88th. minute. Warrilow's clumsy challenge floored Costello, and referee Mr. Heaver made a brave decision and pointed to the spot. It was up to Chris Hanks to take the penalty without Mark Rosegreen, and he sent the keeper the wrong way and blasted the ball into the corner of the net for his ninth goal of the season.
Crawley Town :- Gary Moseley, Sean Edwards, Alan Lester, Tommy Warrilow, Tony Vessey, Cliff Cant, Trevor Timms, Barry Smith, David Boyce, Grant Gallagher, Richard Tiltman.
Substitutes - Chris Harris, Jason Wheeler.
Bromsgrove Rovers :- Richard Attwood, Nigel Conniff, Stewart Brighton, Alan Lowell, Paul Cooper, Russell Parmenter (Tony Costello 74 mins.), Paul Webb, John Ford, Chris Hanks, Mark Rosegreen (Martin Hallam 74 mins.), Sylvester Cunningham.
Referee :- Mr. T. C. Heaver (Higham)
Assistants :- Mr. R. D. Hills (Lakefield) & Mr. P. Turner (Durrington)
Attendance :- |