Bad day at the office

Rovers went in to this game off the back of last week’s surprise result at Corby Town, but could not replicate the resolute display from seven days ago as they were taken to task by a brilliant and ruthless display from the visitors.

Halesowen took the lead before the quarter hour, as a counter attack saw Gibson square the ball across goal, missing a host of players but finding his strike partner Molyneux who bundled home from close range. Less than ten minutes later the lead was doubled with an almost carbon copy goal from the right hand side. Gibson this time the beneficiary to turn home from close range after a plethora of players missed the cut back. Five minutes later and Halesowen couldn’t believe their luck as the lead was further extended, captain McCone heading home unmarked after a poorly cleared corner was played back into the box. Hawker added a deflected fourth before half time for the rampant visitors, who also hit the cross bar and saw Rovers keeper Carl Knox make a good save to deny Ashmore. Four nil at the break.

The second half began the way the first had ended, Hewitt adding a fifth goal for Halesowen. Placing a shot from the edge of the area. Kempston managed to prevent any further damage to the scoreline as the visitors took their foot off the peddle, although were perhaps unfortunate not be awarded a penalty with fifteen minutes to go, Gibson appearing to be brought down having gone around Knox, but the official was firm in his denial. Rovers’ frustration boiled over toward the end and Sam Johnson was shown a red card for appearing to throw a punch at an opponent as the pair grappled each other to the ground following a challenge.

The five nil defeat is Rovers’ heaviest in the league this season and sees them drop back down to eighteenth place in the table ahead of next weekend’s trip to Bedworth United.