BROMSGROVE Rovers AFC’s men’s senior team won their first trophy following a dramatic penalty shootout victory against Desi FC in the Intermediate Cup, writes Neil Gordon.
Bailey Depper-Gwilliams scored the crucial spot kick to give Rovers a historic first piece of silverware at Coleshill Road, just four years after the side formed.
Robbie Davies scored twice for Rovers after the interval to cancel out Daniel Elwell’s opener for Birmingham and District Football League Division One rivals Desi, before Naseem Miah struck late to force penalties.
The final also marked the end for Bromsgrove manager Spencer Machin’s four-year reign.
Elwell put Desi ahead at the back post on half-time after a ball in from the right.
After the interval Jack Dawkins controlled midfield for Bromsgrove and Davies turned the tie in Rovers favour when he equalised on 67 minutes, before then putting his side ahead.
Late on Aaron Evans hit the inside of the post for Desi while Depper-Gwilliams forced a great save at the other end.
However, Miah scored an equaliser nine minutes into stoppage time to spark huge celebrations for Desi and force a shootout.
Penalties followed with Tom Daccus, Jack Hopper and Kian Davies all converting for Rovers, before Greens goalkeeper Jacob Brown superbly saved in sudden death.
And Depper-Gwilliams then duly clinched the trophy for Bromsgrove as Rovers triumphed 4-3 on penalties to lift their first-ever piece of silverware.
Machin said: “I congratulate the players, they’re buzzing in the dressing room, buzzing for me, you can see how they were with me at the end.
“It’s a massive thing. The first-half was cagey, their midfield bossed ours, but the second-half we’ve bossed it and we should have won 4-2.
“But we’ve done what we needed to do and I’m chuffed to bits.”
