ATHIUM MIDLAND COMBINATION PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2012
BROMSGROVE SPORTING 5 CASTLE VALE JKS 1
Another convincing home win, in fact a stroll in the sun on a very warm and muggy day. The conditions were energy sapping and not ideal for football and Sporting were never quite at their fluent best. They were however more than good enough to beat hard working but limited opponents.
They had to come from behind too. After Sporting kicked off and dominated the early possession Castle Vale scored with their first attack after eight minutes. This was a poor goal from a defensive point of view as chances to break up the attack were missed and a low right wing centre was allowed to reach Nathan McBean at the far post. He finished with a firm shot. Ten minutes of frustration followed, with Sporting building up too slowly and Castle Vale quick to get men behind the ball. Patience we told ourselves, the goal will come. After 21 minutes it did and owed much to the patience of Danny Deehan who with nothing seemingly on held the ball and looked for an opening before finding Chris Conway with a well disguised pass. Conway turned and scored inside the near post. Three minutes later Sporting were in front as Blake headed in Conways' fine right wing centre.
From this point onwards Sporting controlled the game and Castle Vale began to look ragged. I was struggling to stay awake in the humid conditions but Castle Vale's defence had evidently given up the struggle. After 35 minutes a Conway cross was floated in from the right and Draper sauntered past three motionless defenders to head in from a couple of yards. That completed the first half scoring although Roberts, Dugmore and Lodge all went close. Defensive dozing at the other end allowed Dunkley a free header from a corner that went just wide.
The second half was pretty uneventful. Sporting controlled the play while Castle Vale dug in to keep the score down. Bright added a fourth just after the hour after Burkett made a hash of dealing with Conway's shot. Bright nearly turned provider on 81 minutes playing in Roberts who was brought down in the penalty area. Conway stepped up to send the penalty kick Sergio Ramos style into the western approaches to Birmingham Airport. The dependable Joe Brookes was on the field so why didn't he take it? The fifth goal finally arrived in injury time, Dugmore's shot taking a big deflection.
I'm not going to get over excited about today in view of the quality of the opposition. But, as they say, you can only beat what's in front of you and Sporting did a good professional job. The most encouraging thing today was the attendance, 312, exactly 100 more than for the opening game against Pelsall four weeks ago. Sporting have scored fifteen goals in four home games (and missed two penalties) and I'm sure they will all be back. I hope they spread the word as well, that you will not get better entertainment for a fiver, anywhere.
Sporting. Francis, Roberts, Deehan, Parker, Mike Thurbon, Dugmore, Rogers (Blake-Walker 77),Blake, Conway, Lodge (Brookes 65), Draper (Bright 43)
Subs Not Used: Baker, Chris Thurbon
Yellow Cards: None
Castle Vale JKS: Burkett, Acton, Lung, Smith, Obi, Duxberry (Boyce 75), Richardson, Goodby, Fitzgerauld (Barfield 28), Dunkley, McBean
Subs Not Used: None
Yellow Cards: Smith (Foul)
Referee Mr S Lane (Sheldon)
Attendance 312
Rouslers Man of the Match James Blake |