BROMSGROVE Rovers AFC fell victim to an upset after losing 2-0 against lower-division side Phoenix Town in the Intermediate Cup, writes Neil Gordon.
A brace from Mark Collins helped the Birmingham League Division Three side stun a young Rovers side at Charford Road.
The result sees Bromsgrove exit a third cup competition this season while drawing a blank in front of goal for the second consecutive game.
In a free-flowing opening to the match, Bromsgrove tested the visitors goal with strikes from Bailey Depper-Gwilliams, Tom Hill and Jake Byford.
Phoenix responded with Jacob Beeke’s acrobatic overhead kick from distance which went over the crossbar, giving an insight into the visitors confidence levels.
And Phoenix took the lead on 30 minutes when Collins blasted home a penalty after Jack Hopper committed a foul in the box.
In the second half, Bromsgrove rang the changes and pressed for an equaliser but failed to hurt the visitors who rode their luck at times.
On the hour mark, Depper-Gwilliams robbed a defender and fed Hill who shot at goal. The keeper parried the shot back into the path of Depper-Gwilliams who fired at an open goal, only to see defender Douglas Foster somehow recover and prevent a certain equaliser.
Rovers were made to rue that missed opportunity when Collins clinically riffled home from a corner to double the visitors lead late on.
Bromsgrove travel to Hampton Sports on Saturday, November 23 with kick-off at 2pm at Field Mill Lane and admission free.
