After Keith Draper's surprise resignation last Saturday following the disappointing defeat by Pershore Town, Graham Scott started today as the sole manager but assisted by the dependable Ron Mellor.
The pitch was declared fit to play in the morning and Sporting wasted little time getting on to the score sheet. On 16 minutes, Matt Ross stopped a Pilkington shot and played out to Aaron Roberts on the left who ran half the length of the field and scored from the edge of the area. Then just a few minutes later the home side had a good chance when Dan Carter (not the New Zealand fly half!) was clean through on goal forcing a great save by Tom Savage that proved to be the defining moment of the match.
On 29 minutes, Jovan Blake-Walker got on to the scoresheet glancing in a header after a cross from the left to make it 2-0. Then seven minutes later, Matt Ross knocked home the rebound after Blake-Walker's header was well saved by Pilks 'keeper Steve Johnson
Moments before half-time Blake-Walker made it four after good work on the left from Nash, Harris and Nicol.
Just after the interval Sporting survived a scare when Matt Ross brought down a Pilkington striker with nobody in sight between him and the goal. He only got a yellow as referee Mr Koni though a covering defender was close but it could easily have been a red.
On 66 minutes Sporting got their only goal of the half and Jovan Blake-Walker completed his hat-trick when 'keeper Johnson failed to hold a shot from Elliot Nash and the much-improving striker followed up to score.
From then on Sporting were happy to sit on a comfortable lead, use up their two remaining substitutes and come home with three points.
Man of the Match: Jovan Blake-Walker. |