After two poor games by their own high standards, Sporting bounced back this evening with a comfortable win against mid-table side Stafford Town to move in to fourth place of the league ahead of Uttoxter Town.
It could though have been much different had the home side not missed two gilt-edged chances in the opening stages. Both fell to the Stafford captain Morgan Hurley who was robbed by Sporting 'keeper Jake Bedford on three minutes just as he was about to shoot from short range then a minute later he just missed a toe-poke after a good cross from Tom Vaughan.
The clearance from this move found Sean Brain in the middle of the pitch who lobbed a well-placed pass over the Stafford-back line to Josh McKenzie who beat 'keeper Chris Marques in an aerial duel then picked up his own nod-on knocking home an easy goal from 12 yards out.
The lofty striker could have made it two on 20 minutes but this time Marques got a hand to his shot and put the ball out for a corner.
The equaliser for Stafford came four minutes later when Bedford failed to hold on to Vaughan's cross and spilled the ball to Nathan Cooper who had an easy tap-in.
Two more good chances went begging for Sporting before they took the lead again on the 32nd minute when Reece Hewitt made a run into the box, dummied one defender before letting fly with a powerful drive that Marques only managed to palm on to Will Tibbetts who was able to bury his shot from just a few yards out.
Five minutes before the interval Brain was unlucky not to get on to the scoresheet when his glancing header hit the post.
The second half was less eventful than the first as Sporting attempted to keep possession and defend their slender lead. They could have gone further ahead on 48 minutes but Jack Wilson's long ball into the box into the box hit the angle before bouncing back into play.
However it was only another 3 minutes before the away side did extend their lead and it was McKenzie again who blasted home from 5 yards out after a neat flick-on from Tibbetts.
Stafford had their best chance of the half with 56 minutes on the clock when Hurley ran half the length of the pitch only to see his shot go wide of Bedford's right hand post. They tried to liven up their game with 10 minutes left but the Sporting defence held firm giving the Bromsgrove side a useful three points.
Their promotion prospects are not yet dead and with the sold defending and accurate passing seen tonight they ought to be able to resurrect their challenge. Meanwhile it is back to cup action on Saturday against Coventry Copsewood in the semi-final of the league cup and a final at Bescot Stadium as a reward.
Stafford: Chris Marques, James Cresswell (James Price 13 mins), Richard Greaves, Andy Dodd, Ron Skelton, Grant Winwood, Morgan Hurley (Capt.), Nathan Cooper (Chris Anderson 73 mins), Adam Cunningham, Craig Hulme, Tom Vaughan.
Unused substitutes: Seth Ellis, Jake Turner.
Goal: Nathan Cooper (24 mins)
Yellow: Adam Cunningham (29 mins)
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan, Jack Wilson (Danny Ludlow 83 mins), Scott Smith (Capt.), Craig Jones, Will Tibbetts (Ross Dempster 78 mins), Reece Hewitt, Sean Brain (Chris Conway 69 mins), Josh McKenzie, Lewis Clarke.
Unused substitute: Sam Wills
Scorers: Josh McKenzie (5, 51 mins), Will Tibbetts (32 mins),
Yellow Sean Brain (19 mins), Chris Duggan (86 mins)
Referee: Mr D Kuzmanovic (Lichfield)
Assistants: Mr I Wylie (Burntwood), Mr N Smith (Rugeley)
Attendance: ~ 60
Weather: Frosty, dry.
Sporting Man of the Match: Jack Wilson |