It looked like it was going to be 'one of those days' for Adrian Mander Bromsgrove Sporting team until James Johnson strolled through to round Chris Mole in the Pilkington's Goal and smash the ball into the empty net to give Sporting a 2-1 away win in a tough encounter at Kings Norton.
This match was going to be interesting from the start with a Pilkington's XXX team managed by Sporting's former players and last year's championship winning Reserve managers, Jamie & Gareth Rogers, and with a squad containing 10 former Sporting players.
The match started evenly with both teams trying to get into a rhythm and find a way through a crowded midfield. The line ups were interesting with both teams playing out and out wingers.
Pilkington's outlet ball was to the dangerous Tierney who looked to beat his man and head to the goal. Sporting's new recruit, Danny Morris covered for pace and dwelt with the threat well.
In the first 20 mins Sporting had efforts through Ashman and Poyner but their tame shots never bothered former Sporting keeper Chris Mole.
Sporting pushed forward and posed a threat on the flanks with the fullbacks adding pace to the wing. The threat on the counter was always there and when the struggling Darby miscued, Joe Brooks was on it in a flash and headed to Bedford's goal before a scrambling defence cleared.
In the 27th minute Pilks took the lead through the dangerous Tierney. Danny Morris and Ashman had a neat interplay on the wing before the ball came inside to Sporting debutant O'Toole. His pass was intercepted and a well weighted pass sent Tierney scurrying clear, a crude lunge by Gleadow failed to stop Tierney and with locks a flowing he calmly shot passed Bedford, 1-0 to Pilks.
Sporting rolled up their sleeves and pushed forward again and caused panic in the home defence with last ditch tackles, blocks and the rub of the green with one effort hitting the Pilks keeper on the head before being cleared.
Pilks were always dangerous on the break and the last effort of the half saw Joe Lawley shoot across the face of the goal and runaway to safety.
Half Time Pilks 1-0 Bromsgrove Sporting.
The second half got under way with a new defence line up for the visitors. Both Darby and Gleadow had struggled with injuries in the first half and were replaced by Brett Mander and Danny Edwards seeing Danny Morris and Chris Duggan move to centre half.
Sporting carried on where they left off, pushing forward in search of an equaliser.
The ever dangerous Tibbetts was making it an uncomfortable afternoon for Pilks full back, Tom Rankin and had a good effort cleared in the 50th minute. Pilks defence stood firm as both managers rung the changes with Wilkes limping off for Pilks and the Sporting management team shaking things up with Wilson replacing Ashman. The changes worked well for the visitors with prolonged pressure forcing a corner where Tibbetts crossed and Poyner beat his man to head past Mole to equalise.
Pilks rang further changes to snub out threat out wide and sent on Mooney to try and impose on Sporting's new look central defence. Sporting were now beginning to take the game to Pilks, a great run by Wilson found Richards who headed powerfully downwards but Mole was up to it and parried the ball to safety.
Sporting could sense the chance for victory and pushed forward with Duggan and Morris dealing with the Pilkington threat easily.
Neat play along the back line created gaps for Sporting players to run into. An accurate pass by Duggan found Richards who turned his man well before releasing James Johnson free to beat the offside trap, round the keeper and slot the 2nd goal home.
Sporting were now well on top and some great approach play by Wilson, Richards and the ever dangerous Tibbetts saw a last ditch tackle resulting in a corner for Sporting.
Pilks continued to press but resolute defending kept them at bay. The game was drawing to a close when a kerfuffle between Johnson & Pilks' Ward saw cards being produced red for Ward and a yellow for Johnson.
The final whistle blew drawing a close to a tough week for Sporting. Work commitments saw Lewis Clarke and Richard Taylor missing leading to Sporting's management teams bringing in Joe O'Toole. |