Barton 1
Rovers 1

THE talk in the stands prior to kick-off was still the shock return of Rod Brown as Bromsgrove Rovers manager.

By the end of Saturday’s clash Rovers were left ruing a costly refereeing decision which robbed them of three points.

With Brown looking on from the stands, his new side overcame a nervy start to produce some excellent football which should have been rewarded with victory.

It was fitting that Sam Alsop and Jermaine Clarke - the only two surviving members from Brown’s first term as boss to feature in Saturday’s squad - combined for the best move of the match.

Not only did Alsop’s well-taken 64th minute strike cancel out Alex O’Brien’s opener, it briefly rekindled the spirit of the Greens at their best.

A huge lift is what Brown must bring to the dressing room, as he is clearly inheriting a side low on self-esteem.

While their second-half display did much to prove they are overcoming that hurdle, the encouraging factors were outweighed by a stinker of a decision from referee Mr R.Greenwood which robbed Davion Hamilton of a winning strike at full-time.

For many, memories of Clive Thomas’ premature whistle in the 1978 World Cup came flooding back.

For Rovers fans, it was Mangotsfield all over again - a reminder of Richard Ball’s goal that never was in last season’s 1-1 draw.

Man of the match Alsop admitted the incident was typical of the situation Rovers find themselves in.

He said: “It was disappointing towards the end there when Davion scored and the ref blew up for full-time but that’s the way it goes.

“But we’ve just got to get on with it. When you are flying high you get the rub of the green.”

What Rovers can’t put down to bad fortune was the poor concentration that handed the hosts a ninth minute lead.

A routine through-ball somehow found its way to Matt Edge.

His shot was charged down by Rovers goalkeeper James Dormand but it was easy pickings for O’Brien, who slid a simple finish into the net.

This came after Dean Curtis had squandered a golden opportunity, firing wide from close range.

Keenan-Meakin Richards sent a speculative effort over the bar in the only other chance of a drab first half.

After the break, however, Rovers were revitalised.

They retained possession better and slowly but surely carved open their opponents.

Alsop’s equaliser was the best piece of football they have produced this season.

The midfielder clinically controlled and shot across goal after being delicately and precisely threaded through by substitute Clarke from the edge of the area.

But controversy reigned. As caretaker boss Daryl Burgess urged bodies forward with Rovers pushing for an injury-time winner, a long throw-in was cleared only as far as Hamiton on the edge of the box.

The full-back quickly set himself and fired towards goal from the edge of the area.

The referee appeared to blow for full-time as the ball left Hamilton’s feet, and the ball ended up in the net via a weak hand from Barton ‘keeper Martyn Patching.

Queue protests from a deflated Rovers side, who were denied closure on an encouraging first phase of the rebuilding job which lies ahead.

BARTON: Patching, Childs, Coker, Beevor (George, 45 mins), Gentle-King, Deaton (Feakts, 65 mins), Edge, Liburd, O’Brien, Sozzo (Hayes, 45 mins), Pratt. Unused: Andrews, Caldwell.

ROVERS: Dormand 7, Duggan 6, Hamilton 7, Meakin-Richards 6, Clayton 5, Pearce 7, Downing 5 (Brady 5, 84 mins), ALSOP 8, Reynolds 6 (Clarke 7, 58 mins), Curtis 5, Craven 6. Unused subs: Albutt, Shaw, Burgess.

Referee: Mr R.Greenwood.

Attendance: 76.