After eight straight league wins, the run would inevitably have to come to an end at some point and so it did last Saturday against a plucky Pershore Town side. However as many Sporting fans pointed out, they did not lose, though the visitors played the well-worn tactic of 'we can't win but we can stop them who can'.
Bromsgrove started with new signing Leavi Osungbere in midfield, three men in at the back and using Jack Wilson and Danny Morris in new roles as wing-backs. Chrisi Conway was unavailable so former Pershore player Sean Brain partnered Sam Wills up front.
Throughout the first half Sporting attempted to get the ball up to the two strikers but centre-backs Matt Mitchell and Dave Williams pretty well mopped everything up giving the home side few chances. It was 16 minutes before the Rouslers got behind the back four and then Reece Hewitt's tame shot was easily gathered by Andy Yarnold. Four minutes later Sam Wills had Sporting's first good effort with a powerful strike but Yarnold dived low to save.
Pershore's few attempts to gain an advantage relied mainly on former Rousler George Coley playing the lone striker but he struggled when expected to beat a well-organised Sporting defence. In fact their best and only chance in the first period came from midfield but Joe Walsh's tame effort caused no problems for Jake Bedford.
For the second half Sporting brought on burley striker Jozsef Jakab in an attempt to break the deadlock but a succession of high balls to him into the box were easily dealt with by the visitor's defence. Pershore seemed to be quite happy to give away a succession of free-kicks (and concede yellow cards) but apart from one where Simon Fitter hit the bar none troubled Yarnold.
Sporting's second new signing from Alvechurch, Danny Carter came on as a substitute with Will Tibbetts with 20 minutes to go and although the pair attempted to both run at and get behind the Pershore defence, none of their efforts were rewarded.
Sporting's best chance of the half came on 75 minutes when Reece Hewitt made a brilliant run from the halfway line right through the visitors' defence and unleashed a powerful shot that rattled the right-hand goalpost.
That just about summed up a frustrating afternoon for the Rouslers and there was an audible sigh of relief amongst the excellent crowd of 397 when referee Mr Parker finally for blew for full-time.
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Danny Morris, Jack Wilson (Jozsef Jakab 46 mins), Simon Fitter (Capt.), Craig Jones, Scott Smith, Leavi Oshungbere, Reece Hewitt, Sean Brain (Will Tibbetts 71 mins), Sam Wills (Danny Carter 71 mins), Ryan Mahon.
Unused substitutes: Charlie Wilson, Danny Lennon.
Yellows: Simon Fitter (31 mins), Ryan Mahon (68 mins), Scott Smith (75 mins)
Pershore: Andrew Yarnold, Steve Webb, Jake Donnelly, Matthew Mitchell, Dave Williams, Joe Walsh (Bradley Jones 85 mins), Craig Connor (Capt.), Mark Hands, George Coley (Joe Robinson 78 mins), Steve Roche, Zac Blood.
Unused substitutes: Adam Blake, Scott Walsh.
Yellows: Craig Connor (38 mins), Matthew Mitchell (43 mins), George Coley (45 mins), Joe Walsh (58 mins), Dave Williams (64 mins), Mark Hands (71 mins), Steve Webb (89 mins).
Referee: Mr A Parker (Coalville)
Assistants: Mr S Robertson (Bromsgrove), Mr M Watson (Droitwich)
Attendance: 397
Weather: Cold, dry.
Sporting Man of the Match: Reece Hewitt |