After crashing to a heavy home defeat last Saturday, Sporting finished off their league programme on a high note against a useful looking Pelsall Villa side but they nearly came unstuck in the dying minutes of the game.
Playing down hill on a wicked slope, Bromsgrove had the best of the play in the early stages but it was the home side who got their noses in front from their first real chance. Tom Hurdman picked up a loose ball just outside the box and with Sporting 'keeper Tom Savage stranded hit a 25 yard drive into an empty net.
Then just four minutes later, Pelsall make a poor clearance out of defence, which went straight to an unmarked Keith Draper who with 'keeper Andy Hughes well off his line, scored a very similar goal from 20 yards to equalise for the visitors.
For the remainder of the half both sides had half chances but the uneven pitch and strong wind made precise, accurate football difficult.
Jon Rogers as usual ran his socks off and this paid dividends when he was bought down from behind in the penalty area; the same player making no mistake from the 12-yard spot to send Sporting in 2-1 up at the interval.
Pelsall came out after their half-time cup of tea looking more purposeful and kept their visitors well pinned back in their own half. Curvin Ellis had a call for a penalty when he went down in the box but referee Mr Faund waved play on.
Sporting though were giving away too many free-kicks and conceded one about 15 yards into their own half with just three minutes left. Sam Collins swung over a good ball to the far post; this was knocked back by Sean Westley to Ash Justin who hit home from 10 yards.
Then more drama with just seconds to full-time when Curvin Ellis followed a ball into the box and was brought down by Keith Draper. This time his appeal was successful, but Dan Battison who took the spot kick put it 6 feet wide of the right-hand post.
A let-off for The Rouslers who now smelt blood making a neat interchange of passes from Tom Savage's punt up field to gain a corner. We were now into the dying seconds as Keith Draper floated the ball over which Chris Gleadow gratefully headed home into the top right-hand corner to give Sporting a deserved but anxious victory.
In his post-match interview Manager Graham Scott thought the game was lost when the penalty was awarded but he praised his team for working hard in difficult conditions and was delighted to end on a winning note.
Pelsall: Andy Hughes, Ash Justin, Jordan Gadu, Sam Collins, Ash Bellingham, Sean Westley, Tom Hurdman, Lewis Perry, Dan Battison (Capt.), Craig Nolan (Curvin Ellis 38 mins), Ryan Wheeler (Niall Small 68 mins).
Subs not used: Craig Timmins, Josh Small, Brad Wooldridge.
Sporting: Tom Savage, Aaron Roberts, Danny Deehan (Jovan Blake-Walker 76 mins), Chris Gleadow, Chris Morrison (Capt., Bradley Williams 79 mins), Nick Harris, Keith Draper, Gareth Davies (Joe Lawley 57 mins), Andy Nicol, Jon Rogers, Elliot Nash.
Subs not used: Matt Ross, Ryan Gardiner. |