Bromsgrove Sporting notched their fifth league win on the bounce with an emphatic 6-0 turnover of Stafford Town to keep their title dreams alive.
A brace from striker Sean Brain, two own goals and one each for Josh McKenzie and Will Tibbetts were also enough to see the Rouslers reach 100 league goals for the season.
Manager Paul Smith, who had emphasised in his programme notes that his side still had a realistic chance of winning the title, handed Simon Fitter the captain's armband in the absence of Scott Smith. And it was the defender who created the opening goal for the hosts.
Fitter's searching pass down field was eventually prodded beyond the reach of Town 'keeper Richard Stone on thirteen minutes by Brain, who just about beat the offside trap.
The Sporting striker had struggled for goals of late but he silenced any doubters when he cut inside from the left and guided his second of the night into the far corner with his right on 36 minutes.
Stafford struggled to make much impression and feeble calls for a handball in the box were quickly waved away.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first with Brain almost snatching a hat-trick, though he put his chance wide, before the lively McKenzie lifted the ball over the 'keeper to make it 3-0 after 58 minutes.
The floodgates were open and the home support didn't have to wait long for the fourth when Tibbetts' low cross was turned into his own net by Town defender James Price on the hour.
Sporting's Chris Conway was brought on for McKenzie moments later and quickly made his presence known. The forward fired a shot on the turn from the outside of a packed box, with Stone only just tipping the ball away for the corner.
But it wasn't long before the second own goal of the night, this time from Andy Dodd on 70 minutes, put the Rouslers just one away from reaching the 100-mark.
Tempers were beginning to flair and Reece Hewitt was lucky to get away with just a talking to from referee Scott Postin after a high challenge on Stafford's Steve Bennett.
But on 80 minutes midfielder Tibbetts added the sixth, firing into a gaping net after the 'keeper had spilled the ball at his feet.
A goal-rout for Sporting against a Stafford side who offered little in return. Jake Bedford in the home goal didn't have a save to make.
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan, Daniel Morris, Simon Fitter, Craig Jones, Lewis Clarke (Joe Adams, 73), Will Tibbetts, Reece Hewitt, Sean Brain, Josh McKenzie (Chris Conway, 61), Aaron Williams (Sam Wills, 69)
Subs not used: Tim Bradley, Sam Delaney
Scorers: Sean Brain (13,36), Josh McKenzie (58), James Price o.g. (60), Andy Dodd o.g. (70), Will Tibbetts (80)
Yellow: none
Stafford Town: Richard Stone, Ben Skelton (Adam Cunningham, 63), Richard Greaves, James Price, Andy Dodd, Tom Doody, Seth Ellis, Tom Vaughan (Steve Taylor, 71), Tom Green (Matt Buckham, 52), Steve Bennett, Jud Ellis
Subs not used: Grant Winwood
Scorers: none
Yellow: none
Referee: Scott Postin (Coventry)
Assistants: Russell Thomas (Worcester), Jeff Widdett (Worcester)
Sporting Man of the Match: Will Tibbetts
Match Report: Ryan Merrifield |