This was very much an end of season encounter with Sporting needing three points to maintain their title challenge whilst for Warwick with little to play for their minds looked to be more on the next campaign.
With a strong sun shining down the pitch, a swirling wind and uneven playing surface, conditions were far from ideal for a good game but Sporting knuckled down quickly and their first goal came on the second minute when Chrisi Conway side-footed home from 10 yards out following a Sean Brain cross. Josh McKenzie then scored the second on six minutes with a header again via a cross from the right.
The home side then sprung to life and attempted to get back into the match. Former Rousler Jake Brown robbed Craig Jones in mid-field on the 14th minute and beat two defenders but his weak shot was turned round the post by Sporting 'keeper Jake Bedford. Not to be outdone McKenzie at the other end hit the post four minutes later.
On 38th minute Brown had another fine run up field putting his shot just over the bar but just a minute later his striking partner Jamie Vadusz showed how to do it with a great strike from 20 yards that had Bedford clawing at thin air as the ball went into the top corner of his net.
Sporting responded immediately from the kick-off with Conway getting his second after Brain supplied the cross.
Seven minutes after the interval Brain himself got a deserved goal when he turned 180 degrees to fire home Sporting's fourth then four minutes later Warwick 'keeper Dowling was unlucky when he took the string out of substitute Jozsef Jakab's shot only to see it creep over the line for the fifth.
Brain scored from the penalty spot on 67 minutes after a handball and the frustration finally got to the Warwick manager who was ordered out of the dugout for comments made to linesman over the incident.
Jakab scored number seven on 69 minutes after turning well to fire under Dowling then two minutes later Jack Wilson put away the best goal of the game with a 30-yard screamer. Aaron Williams scored number nine on 79 minutes with a tap in at the far post then Conway finished his hat-trick and got Sporting's 10th with eight minutes to go when he fired Williams' cross low under Dowling.
The home side could have reduced the deficit on the 86th minute but substitute Tristan Perry put his shot well wide and that was the last significant effort from either side.
Manager Paul Smith praised his players after the final whistle saying, "Today was a professional performance. We had to win and we did what we needed to do so I am pleased with the outcome and I was good to score a few goals".
So an afternoon that Warwick will want to forget whilst Sporting still retain a chance of the title and importantly maintain their better goal difference over leaders Highgate United. A win at Atherstone on Tuesday will mean the championship will not be decided until next Saturday with Sporting having to win against Nuneaton Griff whilst Highgate will have to lose at Coventry Copsewood to allow the Bromsgrove team to win the title on goal difference. An exciting week ahead.
Warwick: Conal Dowling, Rob Campbell, Joe Mason (Tristan Perry 46 mins), Elliott Powell, Ashley Buswell (Joe Woodward 57 mins), Tom Reynolds, Terence Morton, George Smith, Jamie Vadasz, Jake Brown, Joaquim Santos de Barros.
Subs not used: Simon Reading, Mark Turton.
Scorer: Jamie Vadasz (39 mins)
Yellow: Jamie Vadusz (75 mins).
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Danny Morris (Chris Duggan 58 mins), Jack Wilson, Simon Fitter (Capt.), Craig Jones, Lewis Clarke (Joe Adams 53 mins), Aaron Williams, Chrisi Conway, Sam Wills, Josh McKenzie (Jozsef Jakab 53 mins), Sean Brain.
Subs not used: Scott Smith, Sam Delaney.
Scorers: Chris Conway (2, 40, 82 mins), Josh McKenzie (6 mins), Sean Brain (52, 66 [pen] mins), Jozsef Jakab (55, 68 mins), Aaron Williams (78 mins)
Cards: None.
Referee: Mr S Kavanagh (Rugby)
Assistants: Mr S Tibke (Warwick), Mr M Gittins (Leamington Spa).
Crowd: 175
Weather: Warm, Windy.
Sporting Man of the Match: Chrisi Conway
Reporter: Phil Baker |