ST MARY'S HOSPICE MIDLAND COMBINATION PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST 2013
BROMSGROVE SPORTING 3 LICHFIELD CITY 0
The opening game at the Victoria Ground illustrated the old adage that results matter more than performances. This game won't be remembered for flowing football, much of the play consisting of scrappy exchanges in a congested midfield . Sporting were not at their best but still scored three excellent goals and won comfortably in the end.
Matt Poyner put Sporting ahead on eight minutes with a goal out of the blue, his twenty yard shot catching goalkeeper Johnson out of position and going into the top right hand corner. Snape might have made it two but his shot was tipped over.
Lichfield then began to come into the game with Minto's pace and strength causing real problems. Their crisp approach play more than once threatened to open up Sporting's defence but poor finishing let them down. Minto had the best chance, using his strength to get past a defender, before beating a second with an extravagant dummy only to shoot weakly at the goalkeeper. It was against the run of play that Sporting increased their lead after 38 minutes but it was a fine goal, Snape's back heel releasing Tibbetts whose low centre was turned in by Poyner.
Sporting's 2-0 half time lead might have been considered flattering but showed the importance of taking chances. After the interval Sporting pressed and Snape had a shot well saved before Tibbetts ran onto a through ball to score with a cool finish. After that the result was never in doubt as Lichfield largely disappeared as an attacking force. The game, which had been fiercely competitive from the start, became niggly and bad tempered which gave the referee the chance he obviously relished to show us his collection of cards. There were eight yellow cards, four for each side while Lichfield's Worrall saw red for dissent twelve minutes from time. In addition one of Lichfield's coaching staff was ordered from the technical area.
Sporting pressed for the fourth and came close, hitting the post and seeing a defender nearly head into his own goal, the ball spinning wide off a divot like an off break.
Adrian Mander said afterwards that he was generally happy at the Rouslers' start to the season but not impressed with today's performance, particularly in the first half.
"We had to say a few words at half time and the team improved in the second half."
My glass is however half full. The Rouslers have taken six points off teams who most observers would expect to finish in the top half but can and will play much better. All of which bodes well for the rest of the season.
Bromsgrove Sporting :- Jake Bedford, Brett Mander, Danny Edwards, Richard Taylor, Toby Checketts, Chris Gleadow, Will Tibbetts, Sam Wilkinson (Karl Gardner 70 mins), Matt Poyner, Jacob Snape (Daniel Priest 70 mins), Stefan Ashman (Jake Brown 84 mins).
Sub not used - Tom Busby
Lichfield City :- Craig Johnson, Jon Huckfield, Jordan Hunt (Josh Houghton 59 mins), Todd Perry, Dan McLeod, Dan Worrall, David Leese, Dan Thurstance, Kyle Minto, Ollie Budd, Ashley Evans.
Subs not used - Sam Buckle, Josh Leaver.
Referee :- Mr. Vaas Koni (Sutton Coldfield) |