Saturday 23rd. August 2014
Midland Football League Division 1
Hinckley AFC 1 (0) Bromsgrove Sporting 2 (1)
Bromsgrove Sporting travelled to St. Johns Park, Heather in Leicestershire to play the newly reformed Hinckley AFC in manager Paul Smith's first game in charge. The reforming of the team under the new regime was evident with four new faces in their squad. Simon Fitter (Littleton), Scott Hadland (Barwell), Scott Smith (Alvechurch) and Sam Wills (Studley) all being considered along with returning player Darious Darkin.
The quality of football matched the lovely surroundings of St. Johns Park, with Hinckley playing the ball out from the back but offering little threat to Sportings defence marshalled by debutant Smith and covered by the determined Simon Fitter. Sporting offered the main threat in the form of live wire Rico Taylor who caused the big, physical Hinckley team some problems down the left flank.
The Rouslers took the lead in the 19th. minute when a free kick wide on the left was taken by Simon Fitter who picked out Will Tibbetts in the 18 yard box, Tibbetts duly headed the ball back across the face of goal where Josh McKenzie was on hand to convert from 6 yards, giving Sam Arnold in the Hinckley goal no chance.
Sporting continued to control the game and saw out the rest of the half with ease.
Half Time - Hinckley AFC 0 Bromsgrove Sporting 1
Hinckley came out with a new resolve after the break and were immediately on the front foot probing the Sporting defence with quick passing and movement through midfield general JJ Melligan. Hinckley equalised 9 minutes after the break when a surging run from midfield by Nathan Walker ended with good link up play with Luke Richards, with the latter scoring from a rebound after Jake Bedford in the Bromsgrove goal parried JJ Milligan's powerful shot.
The goal brought alive the home fans and the Sporting supporters feared this could be the start of the Hinckley revival as all of the play had been in the Rouslers half after the break.
Within a couple of minutes Bromsgrove retook the lead. A misplaced pass from the towering centre half was pounced on by the nippy Will Tibbetts who ran at the back peddling Hinckley defence. Tibbetts drew the cover before squaring to fast moving Josh McKenzie. Arnold in the Hinckley goal blocked the tall strikers' first attempt but couldn't keep out the follow up shot.
Both managers made substitutions with Hinckley pushing for the equaliser and Sporting sitting further and further back to deny them space and opportunities. The Sporting defence blocked shots and threw themselves in front of Hinckley's efforts with Bedford in the Bromsgrove goal punching clear on numerous occasions against the big attackers.
Bedford was beaten in the 85th minute when Mark Bellingham, flicked in a powerful shot from substitute Craig Bannister, but the linesman's flag showed that the Ex-Rousler was in an offside position.
Sporting created chances on the break but were thankful to hear the referees whistle and grab the three points from one of the teams tipped to top the league in May.
Pauls Smith stated that he was pleased with the result and praised all of the players for the discipline and efforts against a well drilled team and looked forward to Monday match away to Pilkington XXX.
Full Time - Hinckley AFC 1 Bromsgrove Sporting 2
Hinckley: Sam Arnold, Bekir Halil, Chris Sockett (Mark Bellingham 66), Nathan Walker, Dominic Smith, George Williams, JJ Melligan, Matt Bailey (James Bennett-Tindall 71), Luke Richards (Craig Bannister 76), Tyrone Clarke-O'Connell, Sean Williams. Subs not used: Richard Robinson, Isaac Cooper.
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan, Dan Ludlow, Simon Fitter, Scott Smith, Craig Jones, Rico Taylor, Scott Hadland (Sam Wills), Josh McKenzie (Jozsef Jakab), Darius Darkin, Will Tibbetts (Rob Agar).
Referee - Mr. J. Kerrigan (Cannock) Assistants - Mr. J. Clarke (Coventry) and Mr. S. Cornall (Coventry)
Attendance - 214 |