With impeccable timing Sporting played their best match of the season when they really needed to, coming away from Rene Road with a thoroughly deserved two-goal win. It was not just the dominance of the mid-field players but a superb display by the back four who restricted the home side to just a handful of chances.
Bolehall lined up with a couple of ex-Rouslers in their line-up. Jon Huckfield who played a few games three years ago and at left-back Nick Harris, famous for scoring a hat-trick in Sporting's first game at the Victoria Ground.
'Hall though were on the back-foot pretty much from the kick-off as balls were punched up-field to Josh McKenzie who made quite a nuisance of himself but it was Reece Hewitt who had the first real chance on 15 minutes when his free-kick was tipped over by Paul Hathaway. Seven minutes later we had the first shot on target from open play as Jack Wilson weaved his through the defence and passed to McKenzie but ballooned his shot well over the bar.
Five minutes later a similar move saw the same outcome.
However Sporting were building up some good moves and some good interchanges involving virtually all the front players but the Bolehall defenders remained solid and there was a sense that something good was need to break them down.
That came on the 31st minutes when Sam Wills picked up a useful ball in the box from Aaron Williams, he then dummied a couple of defenders before hitting a superb shot though the narrow space between 'keeper and post to give the visitors the lead.
It should have been two on 41 minutes when Craig Jones' precisely directed header from a Will Tibbetts' free-kick was going into the top right-hand corner but Hathaway just managed to get a hand to it.
After the interval Bolehall had to continue where they left off in the first-half defending in numbers with the tally of yellow cards illustrating the pressure they were under. However they did manage their best effort of the match on 71 minutes when Adam Goodby forced Jake Bedford into a good save from 18 yards out.
However Sporting were still searching to extend their lead and they managed this with 78 minutes on the clock. Simon Fitter floated a free-kick into the box that Bolehall only managed to clear just outside the box to a waiting Aaron Williams whose speculative shot went straight through a crowded penalty area and past Hathaway's outstretched left arm.
Bolehall attempted to get on the scoresheet and constructed a few good moves themselves but all came to little as they failed to get close enough to worry Bedford.
Sporting worked on the "attack is the best form of defence" principle by keeping to ball up field but they failed to added to their tally and after four minutes of added time Mr Sarginson blew for the end with enormous cheers from the 100 or so travelling fans.
After the match assistant manager Martin Socket said, "This was a fantastic result. We played well both the first and second half getting a deserved three points against a good side".
So Sporting consolidate their position in second place and chalk up a club record of 8 wins in a row but with Highgate winning they are still 6 points adrift of the leaders with a game in hand.
This Saturday sees another away match at Racing Club Warwick whilst they now know who their opponents will be in the League Cup on May 6th after Southam United beat Littleton in last night's semi-final.
Bolehall: Paul Hathaway, Richard Deavall, Nick Harris, Joe Obi, Jon Huckfield, Jamie Abbott (Michael Pollard 70 mins), Scott Goodby, Adam Goodby, Dave Yonwin (Tom Lapworth 59 mins), Tyler Brownlees, Chris Cowley (Chris Sturridge-Packer 83 mins).
Subs not used: Keegan Butler, Dave Haywood.
Yellows: Jon Huckfield (14 mins), Chris Cowley (42 mins), Michael Pollard (77 mins), Scott Goodby (88 mins).
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Danny Morris, Jack Wilson, Simon Fitter (Capt.), Craig Jones, Aaron Williams, Will Tibbetts (Sean Brain 80 mins), Reece Hewitt, Josh McKenzie Sam Wills (Chrisi Conway 75 mins), Lewis Clarke.
Subs not used: Chris Duggan, Scott Smith, Joe Adams.
Scorers: Sam Wills (31 mins), Aaron Williams (78 mins)
Referee: Mr A Sarginson (Hednesford)
Assistants: Mr T Wainman (Tamworth), Mr D Laska (Tamworth).
Crowd: ~130
Weather: Warm, Breezy.
Sporting Man of the Match: Aaron Williams
Reporter: Phil Baker |