Redgate Off As Sorry Rugby Battered By Bromsgrove
Sunday, 16th November 2003
An inept defensive display, coupled with some controversial refereeing decisions and some bad luck, gifted Bromsgrove a comfortable victory over Rugby United at Butlin Road...
Saturday, 15th November 2003
Attendance | 299
Rugby United |
1 |
5 |
Bromsgrove Rovers |
|
Williams 90 Redgate off 24 |
Dyson pen 24 Jackson 45 Banner 63, 73 Szerczyk 82 |
||
| Match Entertainment |  |
Star Man | Robbie Beard | Rugby's top scorer led a one-man battle at times and was desperately unlucky on several occasions not to get United back into the game. |
Rugby went into the game on the back of a seven-match unbeaten league streak, and were started in confident mood, even without influential midfielders Craig Dutton and Danny Hall as well as captain Craig Herbert.
It took 17 minutes for a chance of real note. Goalkeeper Jason Pearcey's long kick found its way to Robbie Beard who took the ball to the edge of the visiting area before delicately flicking the ball over the defender before unleashing a measured left-foot volley from 20 yards which was inches away from a spectacular opener.
Rugby pressed forward, and were beginning to take control of the game when Rugby fell asleep at the back and allowed a clear shooting opportunity for Kevin Banner from 12 yards. However, just after the Bromsgrove striker struck the ball, Gary Redgate's hand inadvertently got in the way of the shot. Whether the incident was deliberate or accidental, the referee gave the penalty, but then incensed the Valley players and officials even more by sending Redgate off for deliberate handball. A very strange decision considering that Jason Pearcey was still well placed in his goal and had every chance of keeping the shot out, so it wasn't exactly a certain goal.
However, midfielder James Dyson stepped up and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead, sending Pearcey the wrong way.
Rugby fell into disarray with only two recognizable defenders on the pitch, and the home side completely lost their shape. Bromsgrove poured forward on many occasions on the counter-attack before half time, forcing Pearcey into several necessary saves.
But Pearcey could do nothing on the stroke of half-time to prevent Bromsgrove doubling their lead. Gary Moran pondered in the box with the bouncing ball, and after Banner had appeared to handle the ball as he challenged, the ball broke to winger Marcus Jackson, whose powerful drive found the top corner of the net.
United manager Tony Dobson was furious with the referee's failure to spot the handball, and took his anguish out on the assistant referee, with Dobson subsequently ordered from the dugout to the delight of the traveling fans.
At half-time, there was an ominous air around the ground, as it seemed that nothing was quite going Valley's way and it was impossible to see how Rugby could get back into the game with a depleted side that was already thin on the ground with few realistic options on the bench.
Rugby were still positive however, and Beard and Justin Marsden combined before the latter powered a shot straight at Paul Wyatt in the Bromsgrove goal.
Beard thought he had scored after he had rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home following a long ball, but most of the crowd had spotted the offside flag which was correctly aloft as Beard was a few yards the wrong side.
Marsden was unusually quiet, and never seemed to get a grasp of the ball, and when he did on the hour mark - he did so delightfully. Cutting in the from the left, Marsden weaved through the visiting defence before creating a massive opening for himself, only for the Rugby number 10 to shoot straight at Wyatt with the goal gaping. The ball bounced up, and Beard got a decent header which looked goal-bound, but Wyatt was fortunately positioned to catch the ball.
This crucial miss proved to be a turning point as so often happens, as lady luck was on Bromsgrove's side. Kevin Banner's corner three minutes later found its way directly into the net at the near post, with no challenge from the Rugby players.
Valley were contributing heavily to their own downfall, as they left Andy Commander and Adam Hart woefully exposed at the back as United looked for a way back into the game. On 73 minutes, all sorts of problems at the back, including an error from Jason Pearcey led to a chance for Kevin Banner to add his second, and he duly obliged, curling in from 20 yards.
Rugby were not getting the breaks, as Robbie Beard saw an effort roll across the goalline, and Rory Squire was desperately unlucky as his 20-yard effort cannoned off the angle. It was clear it wasn't to be Rugby's day, and a clear-cut case for a penalty was declined as Steve Pope handled in the box. However, this was of little consequence at 4-0 down with only minutes remaining.
Bromsgrove cut through the Rugby defence like a knife through butter, and Kevin Banner, on a hat-trick, raced away but unselfishly laid the ball across Pearcey for Paul Szewczyk to tap home the simplest of goals.
Jamie Williams gave Rugby the smallest of consolations with the last kick of the game, tapping home Aaron Shanahan's neat cross.
Disappointing, but all will be rectified with a win at Shepshed on Tuesday.
Rugby United | Pearcey, Moran (Hegarty), Thompson, Hart, Commander, Redgate, Squire, Williams, Beard, Marsden, Shanahan Subs | Thomas, Pearson, Wesley
Bookings | Shanahan, Beard