Evesham Hospital Cup, Semi-Final, Saturday 14th April 2012, 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Droitwich Spa FC 1 (0) Bromsgrove Sporting 3 (0)
Home tie for Droitwich played at the Victoria Ground
After missing out on a cup final place the week before when Boldmere St Michaels dumped them out of the Smedley Crooke Trophy, Sporting made amends by defeating local rivals Droitwich Spa to reach the final of the Evesham Hospital Cup.
Chrisi Conway failed a pre-match fitness test so Joe Brookes returned to the starting line-up but manager Keith Draper chose to play him deep with Robbie Hendy and Dan Wilkes up front. With a cold breeze blowing down the centre of the pitch, Sporting has the better of the play and possession for most of the first half but failed to take advantage with a ball in the back of the net.
Kevin Banner looked assured on the left wing and delivered a number of good crosses which Hendy and Brookes attempted to convert but found Spa keeper Nick West in fine form tipping over a couple of certain goals. Banner also had a couple of opportunities with free-kicks but it was not his day as he sent one just over the bar whilst the second cleared to town end wall as well.
Following the interval and with Sporting playing up hill there looked to be a noticeable improvement in tempo and pace that unsettled the visitors. Sure enough this upturn eventually yielded dividends when on the 58th minute Robble Hendry slotted home after a goalmouth scramble.
The lively striker then doubled Sporting's tally just four minutes later with a well-worked effort that left West with no chance.
Droitwich though were not finished and as with the first half they regularly managed to get into the home side's half. On 65 minutes this resulted on a good effort from Stuart James that came back into play of the bar; Sporting were slow to clear so Chris Thurbon (brother of Sporting's Mike) was grateful to bang home the loose ball home.
Sporting though regained their two-goal advantage on 71 minutes when Dan Wilkes finally managed his first goal of the season running through the Droitwich defence to the bye-line, he then turned back and hit an angled shot under Nick West from 10 yards out.
From then on, Sporting shored up their defence and despite a couple of attempts, the tired legs of Droitwich never got another sniff of the Sporting goal mouth.
So an entertaining game and Sporting now meet Littleton, who beat Malvern Town at Littleton's ground on May 19th.
Sporting: George Anderson, Chris Bright (Karl Fellows 46 mins), Aaron Roberts, Nick Martin (capt), Mike Thurbon, Keith J Draper, Peter Jenvey (Nick Allen 84 mins), Dan Wilkes (John Evans 79 mins), Joe Brookes, Robbie Hendry, Kevin Banner.
Subs not used: Chrisi Conway, Keelan McNally.
Goals: Robbie Hendry 58, 62 mins, Dan Wilkes 71 mins.
Yellow: Keith J Draper (78 mins)
Droitwich: Nick West, Jack Eaton, Henry Davis, Liam Jauncey, Chris Cartwright, Michael Seeley, Aaron Austin (Dean Wise 64 mins), Chris Thurbon, Stuart James (Luke Rainbow 78 mins), Stephen Pitt, Ben Brogan (Nathan Davies 54 mins).
Sub not used: Tom Blunt.
Goal: Chris Thurbon (65 mins)
Yellow: Michael Seeley (68 mins)
Referee: Mr J Widdett (Worcester)
Assistants: Mr D Amor (Upton Snodsbury)
Mr J Watson (Droitwich)
Crowd: 192
Sporting MoM: Dan Wilkes
Droitwich MoM: Nick West
Weather: Cold, breezy. |