BROMSGROVE Rovers AFC suffered their heaviest-ever defeat after losing 8-2 against Hampton Sports in a blow to the club’s title hopes, writes Neil Gordon.
Only last weekend, Rovers AFC secured their biggest-ever victory – a 10-0 win against Yardley Wood – but were brought back down to earth with a bang as Bromsgrove tasted defeat at home for the first time in 15 months.
A pair of late consolation goals from Ben Hill and Dan Gibbons added some respectability to the scoreline while goalkeeper Josh Nicholas made a number of saves to prevent further damage at Charford Road.
For Hampton, Connor Powell netted a hat-trick while Oli Griffiths, Louis Brown, Adam Priestly, Edward Paddock and Gabe Henderson all found the net.
The result means Bromsgrove drop to second in the Birmingham and District League Division Two table.
Nicholas made a fine double save to keep the scores level early on, denying both Paddock and Powell in quick succession.
However, Griffiths put Hampton ahead when his high cross from the left went in off the back post.
And Hampton doubled their lead when Powell fired home his first of the match despite attracting the attention of four Bromsgrove players.
Rovers AFC trailed by two goals at the break before the referee sent Dan Jones to the sin-bin and Powell took advantage to double his tally for the game.
Powell soon completed his hat-trick before Brown and Priestly struck as Hampton scored three goals in the space of nine minutes.
Hill netted a consolation for Rovers AFC only for Paddock and Henderson to further increase Hampton’s lead.
And Gibbons rifled home for Bromsgrove at the death on a day to forget for Rovers AFC who lost at home for the first time this season.
Rovers AFC manager Spencer Machin said: “We’ve gone from our biggest victory to our heaviest defeat inside a week.
“Our attitude wasn’t great and we were out fought and out played in every area.
“Hopefully, we can now put this right.”
Bromsgrove take on Galore in the quarter-finals of the Holder Cup on Saturday, February 8 with kick-off at 2pm at Knightlow Road and admission free.
