NEW SIGNING Danny Lowndes netted both goals as Rocester came from behind to ease their relegation fears with a deserved 2-1 win over Bridgnorth Town at Hillsfield on Saturday.

The result brought to an end a miserable sequence of nine straight defeats in all competitions for the Romans.

And it gave them their first league win since the 4-2 victory at Cradley Town way back in October.

Despite their poor run of results, manager Dave Langston sent his players out in a positive frame of mind and they responded with a passionate, fully committed performance that was just what was needed on the heavy Hillsfield surface.

Rocester were into their stride quickly and the visitors were fortunate to escape a number of early scares deep inside their area.

Town had another let-off when the impressive Morgan Hurley powered his way down the left before pulling the ball back to Mark Hodson, who lifted a great chance way over the bar.

However, against the run of play it was Bridgnorth who broke the deadlock on 34 minutes. Gareth Horler produced a stunning strike from 20 yards out, sending the ball high into the top right-hand corner of Richard Froggatt's net after Rhys Adams had played the ball square to him.

Rocester's response to the setback was immediate. And within three minutes Lowndes restored parity with a crisp low drive after some good work by Hurley inside the area.

Visibly lifted, the Romans surged forward and after Lowndes had held the ball up superbly, Hodson's effort from the edge of the area only just cleared the bar.

Bridgnorth keeper Darren Walters then received a yellow card for handling outside the area after Hodson closed him down. But the free-kick came to nothing before Walters got down well to save Hodson's first-time effort from Sam Wain's cross.

It was more of the same immediately after the break and the Romans were rewarded again when Hurley broke away down the left channel and took the ball past Walters. His angled shot looked to be heading for the net on its own. But Lowndes raced into the six-yard box to make sure it did to claim his second of the match on 51 minutes.

The visitors dug in and tried to force their way back into the game, but apart from one Horler effort that was brilliantly pushed away for a corner by Froggatt they had little cutting edge.

Rocester, on the other hand, always looked dangerous on the break and really should have won by a much bigger margin. The Romans wasted no less than five one-on-one chances – three of which came in stoppage time as Bridgnorth committed men forward. But despite the let-offs Rocester claimed all three valuable points.

ROMANS: Froggatt, Rogers, Butler, Wain (Bullock 80), Reeves, Justin, Lowndes (Bailey 73), Langston, Hodson, Hurley, Sterling. Subs not used: Langridge, Farrelly, Holt.