With just over three weeks since either team had kicked a ball in anger, fans who braved the cold to stand around the pitch at Perdiswell naturally thought they were in for sluggish game. However the first half was quite competitive with Sporting moving the ball round well and Perrywood slowing the match down and relying on breaks to secure an advantage.
Despite the recent poor weather, the pitch was in surprisingly good condition and errors were more due to lack of match practice rather than the conditions.
Odane Barnes stamped his presence on the game from the kick-off and won a free-kick on the left as early as the 3rd minute. Zac Blood knocked it over only for Neil Cooksey to shoot wide of right post by inches.
Michael Hartshorne and Lee Seldon had the best chances for the home side in the first 45 minutes but Sporting really should have taken the lead from the numerous opportunities they had when laying siege to the Perrywood goal just after 20 minutes when they won three corners and forced Perrywood 'keeper Dan Stephens into four excellent saves.
Just before half-time there was a repeat of the action from earlier on when Stephens again had to make good saves including one where he flew across the face of his goal mouth whilst Richard Griffiths headed against the cross bar from a corner.
Seven minutes after the interval Sporting finally took the lead when Nick Harris swung a free-kick into the Perrywood box. Richard Griffiths made no mistake this time glancing into the top right hand corner of the net.
Sporting should have increased their lead a few minutes later but again it was excellent 'keeping from Stephens who kept out good efforts from Barnes and Siviter whist the right post stopped another from Chris Bright.
The second for Sporting came on 69 minutes when Jamie Siviter slotted home after Stephens parried Odane Barnes' shot.
Chris Bright wrapped up the game for Sporting on 86 minutes when he slid Barnes' cross into the net as a tired Perrywood defence looked on helplessly.
So three more valuable points for Sporting against a plucky Perrywood side who might have gained more from the match had they been a bit more adventurous going forward. Sporting remain in fourth place but gain ground on the top two, Feckenham and Henley Forest who both lost their opening fixture of 2011.
Perrywood (blue shirts, white shorts, blue/white socks, 4-4-2) - Dan Stephens; Ryan Gormley (Darryl Gormley 40 mins), Neil Mogford, Jason Stoddart, Nick Pearce; Shane Oldham, Anthony Layton (Logan Stoddart 46 mins), Ian Urry, Michael Hartshorne; Lee Seldon; Luke Duffett (Ian Radford 67 mins).
Sporting (red/white shirts, white shorts, green/white socks, 3-5-2) - Jim McGettrick; Neil Cooksey, Richard Griffiths (Capt), Nick Allen; Chris Bright, Dan Wilkes, Jamie Rogers, Nick Harris, Zac Blood (Gareth Rogers 78 mins); Jamie Siviter, Odane Barnes (Shaun May 87 mins). Substitutes not used: Danny Patrick, James McKeon, Jordan Siviter. |