Smedley Crooke Challenge Cup 1st Round - Tuesday 30th October 2012, 7:45 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Sporting 4 (2) Dudley Town 1 (0)
Sporting advanced to the next round of their second cup competition in four days when they saw off Dudley Town from the West Midland League in the Smedley Crooke Cup. Joint Manager Keith Draper noted before the match that the two teams were in similar positions in their leagues so would Sporting's position in the Midland Combination be vindicated?
The omens were good from the kick-off with Sporting looking livelier and settling down quicker. Good efforts were made by Jon Rogers and Keith Draper Jnr before the improving Jovan Blake-Walker gave the home side the lead on 21 minutes. The strongly-built striker received a great pass in the six-yard area, dummied a defender before calmly slotting past the right arm of Tom Harper in the Dudley goal.
Not to be outdone Dudley immediately went on the offensive and moments later Danny Ludlow chipped the ball over the Sporting defence only to be denied by the bar.
Six minutes later a Sporting attack went the same way when Karl Fellows sent a long cross into the box that Nick Harris headed against the bar.
However the Rouslers did not have to wait long to get back on to the score sheet and it was Blake-Walker again but this time with a powerful header when he rose above the defence and angled beautifully past Harper.
Dudley to be fair moved the ball round well and always looked threatening but most of their moves failed in the last third of the field. Robert Whitley had a reasonable effort just before half-time whilst the lively Rion Francis- Mills got into a good position but made a poor shot just after the interval.
Dudley in fact continued to have the better of the play as Sporting risked little to preserve their advantage. But with 81 minutes on the clock and the away defence tiring, Jon Rogers saw his opportunity and made a rush into the box. He went over with what looked a clip on the ankle and after consulting his assistant, Mr Scriven pointed to the spot. Rogers took the kick but did not really hit his shot hard enough and Harper guessed right diving to his left to keep it out. Unfortunately for him the ball bounced out to the advancing Karl Fellows who gratefully banged home the deflection for Sporting's third.
With two minutes into added time Dudley got a goal back though former Rover Alex Cowley but Sporting substitute Chrisi Conway restored his team's lead a minute later to much applause from the choir in the stand.
On reflection Keith Draper Snr said he was pleased with another good performance and after making a number of changes thought that having a large and flexible squad was paying dividends.
Sporting are back in league action on Saturday with a home match against Blackwood, 3:00 p.m. kick-off.
Sporting: Tom Savage, Karl Fellows, Jamie Parker (Nick Martin 84 mins), Matt Ross (Capt), Mike Thurbon, Nick Harris, Keith Draper Jnr, James Turk (Jack Lodge 71 mins), Jovan Blake-Walker, Jon Rogers, Chris Bright (Chrisi Conway 63 mins).
Subs not used: Aaron Roberts, Joe Lawley.
Scorers: Jovan Blake-Walker (20, 31 mins), Karl Fellows (83 mins), Chrisi Conway (90+3 mins)
Dudley: Thomas Harper, Alex Cowley, Jonathan Watkins, Chris Whittaker (Todd Warner 84 mins), Robert Whitley, Alex Perry, Ben Stretton, Brett McGilligan, Geoff Hill (James Weston 84 mins), Rion Francis-Mills, Danny Ludlow (Capt, Liam Morris 83 mins).
Subs not used: Steve Edmunds, Dreniz Bala.
Referee: Mr P Rodway (Rubery)
Assistants: Mr A Scriven (Northfield), Mr G Warren (Bromsgrove)
Crowd: 188
Weather: Cool, dry
Sporting Man of the Match: Tom Savage
Reporter: Phil Baker |