"Disappointing; we did not play well enough", that was the verdict of manager Myles Day after Sporting were dumped out of the League Challenge Cup. In fairness Sporting did play well enough in the first half and went in at half-time one up. But Chelmsley did their homework over the interval, looked like a different side in the second half and got the two goals needed to take them through to round 2.
Sporting started lively and looked determined to get an early break. It duly came when Shaun Maynard was pulled down just outside the penalty area on 10 minutes. Aaron Roberts took the free kick and a superb strike saw the ball easy go past 'keeper Blaxland's arm into the top right corner of the net. It was pretty well all Sporting in the first 45 minutes who were allowed plenty of space to move the ball around in midfield but failed to add to the score line. This was despite excellent play the midfielders, but too many moves ended in the last third of the field and any shots were either too weak or off target.
After looking rather frustrated for much of the first half, Chelmsley began to get their act together towards the end of the first half. This continued after the interval and their tactics of closing down Sporting and keeping possession paid dividends on 55 minutes when Phillip Wright hit a good shot through the defence from just outside the box that went right of Chris Mole and into the net off the post.
Nine minutes later, the visitors were in front. After a corner, Sporting failed to clear the ball despite two attempts and Junior Brown finally latched on to the loose ball and made no mistake banging it in into the back of the net.
Heads were down and Sporting looking dejected at having conceded a lead. However they did defend well stopping Chelmsley from extending their lead but with the visitors also remained solid at the back and with legs tiring there was little for either goalkeeper to do in the last quarter of the match.
So Sporting's 100% home record comes to an end. The score line was a fair one across the whole 90 minutes. However, the job of players and management now is to convert the obvious talent and good footballing skills into goals.
Sporting (red & white shirts, blue shorts, blue socks, 4-4-2) - Chris Mole; Gareth Rogers, Nick Allen (Neil Cooksey 62 mins), Richard Griffiths (capt), Brett Skinner; Zach Blood, Jamie Rogers, Aaron Roberts, Danny Patrick (Chris Bright 82 mins); Shaun Maynard (Stewart James 76 mins), Michael Woolman. Substitutes not used: Sander Milicev, James McKeon
Chelmsley (sky blue/white shirts, black shorts and socks, 4-4-1-1) - Craig Blaxland; Tonn Adcock (Curtis Walters 24 mins), Warren Perks, Darryl Harris, Scott Parker (capt); Mark Foster (Ben Toon 82 mins), Scott Hewitt, James Sawyer, Michael Berry (Oliver Burton 86 mins); Phillip Wright; Junior Brown. Substitutes not used: Grant Humphries, Andrew Wardle. |