Les James Memorial Challenge Cup sponsored by Endsleigh
Saturday 27th October 2012, 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Sporting (2) 4 Bloxwich United (0) 2
Both Sporting and their opponents were missing several regular players owing to injury or work commitments and it showed with the game played at a fairly sedate pace and never really hitting the excitement levels of recent matches.
In contrast to previous mild but damp conditions, the game was played with a raw, cold wind blowing down the pitch and although it did not materially affect the play, the game seem to take time to really get started with neither side looking to risk much until they had sized up the opposition.
Sporting had the best chances early on with Keith Draper curling a delightful shot just over the crossbar on the sixth minute whilst Bloxwich nearly put the ball in their own net three minutes later when Wayne Hayward's poor header was fumbled by 'keeper James Fryer who just managed to stop the ball rolling into his own net.
Sporting did though take the lead on the 22nd minute. Elliot Nash found himself with plenty of space and made a great run down the right and into the Bloxwich box. His low cross became more of a shot that caught out Fryer who merely helped it into the net.
Keith Draper again and Jovan Blake-Walker making his first start for Sporting both came close whilst at the other end Adrian Jones had a good effort saved by Tom Savage.
Sporting increased their lead courtesy again of the lively Nash whose shot looked to be saved by Fryer only to see the ball dribble over the line. To add to his misery, the hapless 'keeper also got a kick in the face and had to be substituted just before the interval.
Sporting continued their dominance playing up hill in the second half and got their third on 64 minutes. Aaron Roberts playing in mid-field today received a good pass out of defence from Nick Martin and with the Bloxwich defence on the other side of the pitch had plenty of space and time to advance down the left and seeing the Bloxwich keeper off his line beautifully side-footed into the net in the narrow gap between player and post.
Jon Rogers came off the bench when the impressive Elliot Nash went off with a hamstring injury and his first contribution to the match was Sporting's fourth goal when the Bloxwich defence failed to pick him up just inside the box and he had plenty of time to hit a shot wide of the keeper's left arm.
That was about the last we saw of Sporting on the attack. Consolidation was the order of the day from then onwards but Bloxwich were determined to make the scoreline look more respectable. Mark Wooldridge got one back for them on 76 minutes when he caught the Sporting back line knapping and with just Savage to beat fired home easily from 10 yards out.
The same Bloxwich forward got his team's second with a couple of minutes left on the clock in similar circumstances.
After the match, joint manager Keith Draper admitted it was not a brilliant performance particularly in the second half but they did get a good result and are now looking forward to meeting Lichfield City in the next round. Sporting play Bloxwich again in a couple of week's time at their ground in the league match and with both teams likely to be at full strength, a more competitive match is in prospect.
Sporting: Tom Savage, Karl Fellows, Jamie Parker, Matt Ross (Chris Bright 60 mins), Nick Martin (Capt.), Nick Harris, Keith Draper Jnr, James Turk (Joe Lawley 74 mins), Jovan Blake-Walker, Aaron Roberts, Elliot Nash (Jon Rogers 64 mins).
Subs not used: James Myatt, Danny Deehan.
Scorers: Elliot Nash (22, 44 mins), Aaron Roberts (64 mins), Jon Rogers (69 mins)
Yellow: Keith Draper Jnr. (59 mins)
Bloxwich: James Fryer (Jamie Simkiss 44 mins), Stephen Coyne, Adrian Jones, Richard Joyce (capt.), Wayne Hayward, John Charters, Carl Morris, Lewis Perry, Michael Allen, Mark Wooldridge, Luke Mansfield.
Subs not used: Mason Cooke, John Freeman, Ashley Billingham, Ashley Justin
Scorer: Mark Wooldridge (76, 88 mins)
Yellow: Wayne Hayward (37 mins)
Referee: Mr J Whittington (Worcester)
Assistants: Mr N Jones (Sutton Coldfield), Mr P Sudbury (Stechford)
Crowd: 205
Weather: Cold, windy
Sporting Man of the Match: Aaron Roberts
Reporter: Phil Baker |