Bromsgrove Sporting finished their league season with another convincing victory and extending the Club record to ten wins in a row.
Highgate United had already won the league on the previous Tuesday confirming Sporting as runners-up for the second season but manager Paul Smith wanted to maintain the momentum and made no secret that he expected 100% commitment from his team.
Sean Brain and Chrisi Conway had early chances go wide whilst opponents Nuneaton Griff were also keen to finish their season on a high note and were unlucky not to get on to the scoresheet when Brady Middleton forced Jake Bedford into a good save on the half-hour mark.
However it was the home side who found the net nine minutes later with a fine effort from winger Will Tibbetts who dummied two defenders from just outside the box before smashing a fierce shot into the top right hand corner of the net giving Griff 'keeper Alex Horton no chance.
Then moments before the interval a useful exchange between Chris Duggan and Aaron Williams saw the midfielder hit a swerving shot from 25 yards but this time Horton saved well.
Playing up hill in the second half, Brain had a shot cleared off the line after a couple of minutes but it was Conway who scored the Rouslers second on the 50th minute when he attempted to slot the ball in the narrow gap between 'keeper and post only for Horton to see the ball roll under him as he dived too late.
Number three was scored by Brain five minutes later when he had plenty of time and space to line up his shot into the bottom left corner of Horton's net. Brain got his second and Sporting's fourth on 58 minutes after a neat interchange of passes with Sam Wills and Conway left the nippy striker plenty of time to slot wide of the diving Horton.
Griff though were still looking to make an impact on the game and they managed to get one back on the 75th minute with a quick break down field that caught the Sporting back four by surprise. Ashley Wilks hit a low shot from 10 yards out that Bedford looked to have covered but it slid underneath him to reduce the deficit.
After latching on to Wills's excellent cross, Tibbetts had his shot cleared off the line but substitute Reece Hewitt restored the Rouslers advantage on 82 minutes with a precisely driven angled shot from the edge of the box.
Sporting's final goal was delivered 3 minutes later by the other substitute up front Josh McKenzie who looked to have hit the bar but both referee and linesman agreed that the lanky striker's shot had gone in and hit the metal stanchion before ricocheting out.
And that was really the last action before referee Mr Cox blew for the end of the match with little time added on.
Before the players left the pitch Mr Norman Harvey the League fixture secretary gave runners-up medals to each of the Sporting players whilst team captains Simon Fitter and Scott Smith were presented with the Runners-up Shield whilst the Griff players sportingly applauded their opponents.
All eyes now will be on Wednesday's match at the Bescot Stadium but a final note of congratulations to Jake Bedford on his 100th appearance for Sporting and the first player to reach a century.
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Danny Morris, Chris Duggan, Aaron Williams (Reece Hewitt 69 mins), Scott Smith (Capt.), Sam Delaney, Will Tibbetts 59 mins), Sam Wills, Chrisi Conway (Josh McKenzie 64 mins), Sean Brain (Jozsef Jakab 64 mins), Jack Wilson.
Subs not used: Simon Fitter, Craig Jones
Scorers: Will Tibbetts (40 mins), Chrisi Conway (50 mins), Sean Brain (55, 58 mins), Reece Hewitt (82 mins), Josh McKenzie (85 mins)
Cards: None
Griff: Alex Horton, Ryan Aston, Chris Sockett (Capt.), Josh Wills, Ryan Millership, Ben Johnson (Ben Scoffham 46 mins)), Ali Abdillahi, Aden Moore (Gregg Maughan 82 mins), Jake Brown, Ashley Wilks, Brady Middleton (Adam Russell 46 mins)
Subs not used: Dave Barnett, Charlie Reardon
Scorer: Ashley Wilks (75 mins)
Cards: None
Referee: Mr J Cox (Rowley Regis)
Assistants: Mr D Pattison (Bromsgrove), Mr S Robertson (Catshill).
Crowd: 391
Weather: Cool, Windy.
Sporting Man of the Match: Jack Wilson
Reporter: Phil Baker |