New Rovers manager Jimmy Mullen had the perfect start to his managerial reign. On a snow covered pitch that survived a late inspection. It only took Rovers 12 seconds to open their account at the Rockingham Triangle Stadium.
Right from the kick off the ball was played back to Riad Erraji and his through ball caught the Corby defence cold. Paul Szewczyk then hammered the ball home from 18 yards out that suprised goalkeeper Richard Lavin.
This stunned the Steelman who rarely troubled Matt Lowe in the Rovers goal. The keeper had to be alert on two occasions - saving shots from Chris Caswell on eight minutes and blocking Brett Derby's effort on 20.
Rovers then forced a corner in the 25th. minute Mark Benbow delivered a perfect cross which allowed an unmarked Szewczyk to power home a header for Rovers' second.
Corby's Bobby White showed a great first touch to carve out a chance for himself inside the area, but Lowe tipped the effort away to safety in another rare attack after 27 minutes.
Kevin Banner then went close in the 41st. minute. His shot from the edge of the area just clipped Lavin's crossbar. Two minutes later Bromsgrove added their third goal. Arthur Appleton headed down Ross Collins' long clearance to Erraji, and the midfielder made no mistake to score.
John Daniels went close on 55 minutes - shooting into the side netting from an acute angle. Szewczyk then weaved his way into the box, only to see Lavin produce a fine save.
On the hour mark the game was over for Corby as Appleton fired in Rovers' fourth goal from the edge of the area past the helpless Lavin.
The overworked goalkeeper produced a string of saves t keep Bromsgrove's score down, denying Szewczyk and Benbow twice. Benbow then put a 25 yard effort only just wide of the upright in the 80th. minute.
Substitute Leon Mitchell had a goal chalked off in the 83rd. minute, after he slid the ball home at the far post from Banner's free kick, but Szewczyk was ajudged to be offside as the cross came over.
ROVERS : Lowe 7, Frost 7, Ulfig 7, Hillman 7, Collins 7, ERRAJI 9*, Daniels 7, Benbow 8 (sub Mahon 82), Szewczyk 8 (sub Francis 84), Appleton 8 (sub Mitchell 81), Banner 7. |