A cruel wind blew up the Severn Valley and across the ground at the King George V Playing Fields. Add to that a heavy pitch after several recent drenchings and conditions were far from ideal for a good game of football.
However a good game we had with Sporting wanting to maintain their good run of form and Droitwich looking to avenge a last-minute defeat in the previous encounter back last October.
There was not much between the two teams in the first quarter hour with Odane Barnes and Dan Wilkes forcing home 'keeper Ashley Manzor into action whilst at the other end Dean Wise fired over and Jim McGettrick saved low from Luke Rainbow.
However the match changed on 15 minutes when Manzor fouled the impressive Barnes well inside the box, getting a yellow card for his trouble. Mr Amor brushed aside protests from the Droitwich defence and although the 'keeper guessed correctly, Jamie Rogers hit the spot-kick well and hard enough to the right of his outstretched right-hand.
For the remainder of the first half apart from one well-stuck free kick from Ross Duggan that went over the bar, it was Sporting on top with Chris Bright and Jamie Siviter having the best efforts. Then just before half-time Barnes was again fouled inside the box, this time Dean Wise the offender. Jamie Rogers again took the spot-kick hitting it hard and low to Manzor's left.
After the interval Droitwich came out very determined and tried to give Sporting as little time on the ball as possible. The visitors however kept possession and the home side were unable to get far up field and when they did the Sporting back line mopped up any attacks. On 57 minutes we had the sad sight of Jamie Siviter being stretched off with an ankle injury after a late but not particularly malicious tackle. The good news is that it is just bruising and no bone or ligament damage.
Sporting continued to look for a third to put the match beyond Droitwich's reach and nearly made it when substitute Shaun May had a shot blocked on the line. But on 80 minutes Chris Bright made no mistake hitting the back of the net with a fine drive from 20 yards though a crowded penalty area.
Odane Barnes deservedly got on to the score sheet five minutes later when he nodded in a Jordan Siviter cross. Dean Wise tried to reduce the deficit in the last minute but his shot went over the bar.
So another win for Sporting to keep up their promotion challenge. For Droitwich the scoreline was probably a little unfair as they battled well in mid-field but really failed to make much impact in the last third of the field.
Droitwich (red/black shirts, black shorts, red socks, 4-4-2) - Ashley Manzor; Darren Charles (Sean Parrish 82 mins), John Reid, Tom Blunt, Ben Stanway (Aaron Austin 46 mins); Ross Duggan, Liam Jauncey (Capt), Dean Wise, Steve Pitt (Liam Sheehan 67 mins); Andrew Keenahan, Luke Rainbow.
Substitutes not used: Nick Burtoft, Alex Kolb.
Bromsgrove Sporting (red/white shirts, blue shorts, blue socks, 3-5-2): Jim McGettrick, Neil Cooksey, Gareth Rogers, Nick Allen; Chris Bright, Jamie Rogers (Capt), Joe Brookes, Dan Wilkes Jordan Siviter 71 mins), Zac Blood; Jamie Siviter (Shaun May 60 mins),Odane Barnes.
Subs not used: Oliver O'Connell, Jamie McKeon, Richard Griffiths |