Sporting's metronomic away form continued last Saturday but this time it was good news with an emphatic win against league leaders Littleton.
It was not just the result but the performance that was in sharp contrast to the dismal defeat at Southam a couple of weeks ago. Sporting have now twice beaten the league leaders on their own grounds this season. The other being against Walsall Wood a couple of months ago.
After his impressive hat-trick the week before, Chris Morrison was give a start up front with Chrisi Conway whilst Elliot Nash who also impressed last week as a substitute, replaced the injured Keith Draper junior.
At the other end of the pitch, Simon Fitter lined up in defence for Littleton after moving from Sporting before the season started.
On a mild and sunny autumn afternoon but quite a heavy pitch, Sporting started brighter with Morrison testing Littleton 'keeper Dan Haywood in the third minute. The same striker hit the side-netting moments later after receiving a useful pass from James Turk.
However it was the home side who nearly took the lead on eight minutes. Sporting conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box that that Fitter slid under Sporting keeper Tom Savage only for the shot to ricochet off the right hand post.
Sporting's pressure though paid off on the fifteen minute mark when the dependable James Blake slotted a precise pass to Chrisi Conway who a hit hard, low shot that caught a Littleton defender on the leg and glanced past Haywood into the Littleton net.
The home side were clearly rattled and responded by pressing forward with a greater determination but they were caught with too many players forward on 32 minutes when James Turk picked up the ball just outside his own penalty area and in a resemblance of Kevin Richardson playing for Rovers a few years a ago headed straight through the middle up field to the Littleton box where with just Haywood to beat hit a low shot under the keeper's body for Sporting's second.
After the interval Sporting appeared to have lost some of their rhythm with passes going astray and an inability to retain possession. However the back four remained tight and Littleton were unable to take advantage.
The Rouslers got their third on 61 minutes. After winning a corner, Elliot Nash took the kick, floating over a fine ball that Matt Ross gratefully headed in for his first goal for the club.
Having established a comfortable lead, Sporting were clearly not going to give it away and retaining possession was paramount. Both sides used their full quota of substitutes including Chris Morrison giving way to the more defensive-minded Jamie Parker after edging the afternoon's encounter with the combative Simon Fitter.
With the pitch taking its toll on leg muscles the last quarter of the game was played at a more sedate pace with neither side really getting as much as a chance.
So Sporting won their second match against Littleton in the space of ten days and again without conceding. After the final whistle joint manager Keith Draper admitted that he would have settled for a point before the start but he was delighted with a good performance praising his players who "bossed" the midfield.
Littleton: Dan Haywood, Kevin Ingram, Kieran Cross, Simon Fitter (Capt.), Callum Clarke, Joe Walsh (Ben Johns 79 mins), Oliver Manochehri (Tom Allard 65 mins), Tim Beattie (Alex Baird 74 mins), James Clarke, Joe Lolley, Dan Trotman.
Subs not used: Steve Edgehill, Luke Richardson.
Sporting: Tom Savage, Aaron Roberts, Nick Harris, Nick Martin (Capt.), Matt Ross, James Blake, Jon Rogers, James Turk (Karl Fellows 81 mins), Chrisi Conway, Chris Morrison (Jamie Parker 74 mins), Elliot Nash (Chris Bright 79 mins).
Subs not used: Danny Deehan, Keith Draper Jnr. |