BROMSGROVE Rovers AFC’s title hopes suffered a major blow following a shock 2-1 home defeat against basement side Redditch Borough, writes Neil Gordon.
A penalty from Oli Whitehouse put Bromsgrove ahead after the break at Eldorado Close in Studley.
However, a brace from Leo Thomas stunned Rovers AFC and lifted Redditch off the bottom of the table while also derailing Bromsgrove’s title hopes.
The result means Bromsgrove remain joint top of Division Two of the Birmingham and District Football League on 34 points with title favourites Silhill.
However, Silhill now have three games in-hand on the Greens.
Bromsgrove came up against a much-improved Borough side just three days after beating their local-rivals 4-1 away from home.
Rovers had Redditch on the ropes 30-minutes in when Jack Dawkins put the ball in the net only for the referee to award a as a free-kick was awarded for a foul.
Soon after, Bailey Depper Gwilliams fizzed a shot past the post while Alex Footman’s powerful header hit a defender on the line as the first half ended goalless.
The second-half began with George Tolley sent sprawling inside the box as Whitehouse blasted home the resulting spot kick to put Bromsgrove ahead.
Rovers then enjoyed a good spell of attacking play but Borough drew level when Thomas headed home after Bromsgrove failed to clear their lines from a free-kick.
Bromsgrove made a number of substitutions and pressed forward but Borough countered and Thomas bagged his second of the match to turn the game on its head.
Despite late pressure from the Greens, Borough held on to inflict a painful defeat on Rovers to all but end the club’s title hopes.
Bromsgrove play Hopwood Swifts on Saturday, April 12 with kick-off at 2.30pm and admission free at Woodfield Academy.
