Sporting progressed to the next round of the Smedley Crooke trophy after overcoming some obdurate defending from a solid Knowle side. A goal in each half settled the tie as Sporting appeared to do just enough to overcome their lower division opponents.
Sporting had a free kick just outside the penalty area after only a couple of minutes but the resulting shot set the tone for the afternoon as it failed to threaten the goal. A similar result came from a second free kick in the first 10 minutes.
Bromsgrove seemed to content to soak up pressure in the middle of the park and try and hit Knowle with long balls up to the twin strike force of Bellingham and Poyner. Unfortunately, for Sporting, Knowle skipper Stephen Jones was dominant in the air and Sporting only started to threaten when they got the ball down and out to the flanks.
The first goal came from a free kick on 22 minutes as the ball was flicked on in the penalty area and Matt Poyner volleyed home from the corner of the six yard box.
Danny Edwards then picked up a booking for a tackle which looked solid but was deemed reckless by the referee.
On 26 minutes Knowle forced a great save from keeper Bedford with what turned out to be their only shot on target of the afternoon.
The second half followed a similar pattern and manager Adie Manders tried changing things around swapping Edwards and Wilkinson, who seemed to pick up and injury, with Cole and Darkin. It was 70 minutes before any impact was made by either side and Sporting almost scored as Knowle played pinball in their own area before the ball flew out for a corner.
On 84 minutes, Sporting did finally wrap up the victory with a second goal which was hammered home spectacularly from 25 yards by Cole to finish off Knowle's stubborn resistance. Whilst both goals seemed somewhat out of place in a drab game of football Sporting will be pleased to progress into the next round where they will face a tie against local rivals Littleton or Feckenham.
Sporting: Bedford (cpt), Mander, Edwards (Cole), Clarke, Morris, Jones, Duggan, Wilkinson (Darkin), Bellingham, Poyner, Ashman.
Subs not used: Harvey, Heath, Lowe.
Knowle: Palmer, Marcroft, Anderson, Collins, Jones (Cpt), Styche M, Hinson, Oakley (Mardenborough), Craine, Styche L, Lys.
Subs not used: Hall T, Hooton, Frogatt, Hall J |