Southam United 4 Bromsgrove Sporting 1
It was a fine afternoon for a football match with little wind as that had blown itself out the previous Tuesday night and the question was, would we be generous and give the opposition a goal start again? The game opened with a flurry of action as Reece Francis kept out a shot from Josh Cole, Simeon Smith pounced on the loose ball only to see his effort kicked off the line and Ryan Lynch lifted his attempt over the bar. As play switched to the other end, Chris Conway drilled in a superb shot that Ollie Manuel flung himself across his goal to divert the ball out for a corner. With a defender running at the Southam goal, the referee found himself in the wrong position as Aaron Roberts shot hard and low. Mr Southgate took evasive action thus unsighting two defenders and the ball flew past them and cannoned off Manuel's left arm into the back of the net to put the visitors ahead.
The home side continue to attack with Jim Graham and Simeon Smith combining well in the penalty area and, from a cross shot by Ryan Lynch, former Saint Matt Ross dived to head the ball out for a corner as he was facing his own goal. Sporting went on the forage with a run by Jon Rogers, who got to the bye line and his low cross evaded everyone and went out near the corner flag. On 37 minutes Southam were on level pegging. Stacey took a long throw, Cole flicked it on and Smith two yards out and facing the wrong way, coolly back heeled the ball into the net taking the defenders by surprise. Then three minutes later Smith surged into the box, with Ross pulling him back, hanging on to half his shirt. It was either an indirect free kick an inch outside the box, plus a booking or a penalty one inch inside the box and a card. Regrettably the referee gave neither for what Mark Lawrenson calls a "stone blind cert". As if to add insult to injury a cross from Rogers was adjudged by the assistant referee was handled and a penalty awarded. Taken by the normally reliable Joe Brookes the shot was well away from Manuel, only for it to hit the inside of a post and rebound across the goal going out for a goal kick. Justice was done in the eyes of the home supporters.
Manager Lee Knibbs made a change at the start of the second half with Lee Thomas replacing Ash Buswell who had the second hardest task of the afternoon trying to keep Rogers quiet. A great free kick by Brookes saw Manuel pull off a brilliant diving save to keep the score even but by now. Smith pushed a pass through to Marc Passey who shot with the outside of his boot and it drifted a yard wide of the far post. On 72 minutes Southam took the lead after a route-one clearance from Manuel bounced awkwardly for Ross and Smith was fouled as he closed on goal, Casey Gaggini sent over a perfect cross. Smith rose like a bird directing his header past Reece only for it to hit the cross bar, but fell kindly to give Cole a simple tap in. Two minutes later Sporting won a free kick near the halfway line and and an "up and under" effort followed aimed into the six yard box, Manuel climbed, got a hand to it and was promptly flattened by two bigger players, but he had done enough to keep the ball away from the net even though there was no whistle for the anticipated free kick leaving Martin Thompson to clear his lines.
On 76 minutes Chris Hayden, near the touchline in front of the grandstand, took two onrushing players out of the game with a superb flick over them to put Passey away and his cross was dutifully met by Jim Graham who coolly finished off a sound move with the third home goal. Southam were not yet finished and on 78 minutes Passey netted goal number four with a deflected shot.
As for selecting a man of the match goes, manager Lee Knibbs was quick to point out it had been a team effort, which was true. But Jim Graham gets better with every game, Simeon took his knocks with a smile. Casey Gaggini is another glad to get games under his belt, as he looks for that extra yard, and played brilliantly in midfield along with Josh Cole opening up avenues for the front runners and switching play in all directions. Skipper Martin Thompson had another fine afternoon but Man of the Match goes to Neil Stacey.
It was a pleasure to greet one of my Birmingham library colleagues, Dave Stephens who is Sporting's match secretary for the first time at Banbury Road, see you in the library on the 16th, about noon.
Southam - 1, Ollie Manuel; 2, Chris Hayden; 3, Ash Buswell (Lee Thomas 46); 4, Martin Thompson captain; 5, Neil Stacey; 6, Casey Gaggini; 7, Marc Passey; 8, Josh Cole (Craig Watkin 76); 9, Simeon Smith; 10, Jim Graham; 11, Ryan Lynch.
Unused subs - Pawel Tomczak and Brad Rees.
Bookings - Neil Stacey
Sporting - 1, Reece Francis; 2, Aaron Roberts; 3, Danny Deehan; 4, Matt Ross; 5, Mike Thurbon captain; 6, Joe Brookes; 7, Jon Rogers (Chris Bright 80); 8, James Blake; 9, Chris Conway; 10, Jack Lodge (Jovan Blake-Walker 76); 11, Keith Draper.
Unused subs - Jamie Parker, Grant Baker and Nick Harris.
Bookings - none
Referee - Mr. Charles Southgate; assistant referees Mr. C. Henry and Mr. Craig Ward.
Southam Man of the Match - No matter where he is picked to play, Neil Stacey gives 110 % and in the heart of defence turned out an immaculate display, quite his best performance of the season. He even found the time to go up field to launch his long throws into the danger zone.
Attendance - 131 |