SAINTS EDGED OUT IN FIVE GOAL THRILLER
by David Hucker
Saints narrowly missed out as Bromsgrove Sporting lifted the Midland Football League Les James Challenge Cup with a late winner at the Banks's Stadium
SAINTS EDGED OUT IN FIVE GOAL THRILLER
Saints' journey to the final had started back in October with a win over Studley, which was followed by victories against Pershore Town, Heather St Johns and Littleton. In all, they had scored 16 goals, of which leading scorer Louis Bridges had contributed six.
The meetings between the two clubs in this season's league fixtures had resulted in honours even, with Sporting winning 7-0 at the Victoria Ground in December on an evening when nothing went right for the visitors and Saints gaining revenge for that heavy defeat with a 2-1 victory at home in March.
However, Sporting had fared the better of the two teams over the course of the season, finishing runners-up to Highgate United and topping the scoring charts with 121 goals. They completed their programme with a 6-1 win over Nuneaton Griff, so the size of the task facing Saints was clear from the off.
Manager Quentin Townsend was without the injured Tom Cooper, as well as the ineligible Adam Guest and Kevin Spencer, but was still able to name a strong line-up with Bridges, who had scored 36 goals in league and cup, as captain.
The first chance fell to Sporting, but Joshua McKenzie shot wide before Saints took the lead after just ten minutes from the penalty spot through Bridges after a handball in the area.
But, Sporting were back on level terms in the 19th minute as Reece Hewitt latched onto a rebound off a Saints defender to slot past Tom Cross. They nearly doubled up three minutes later when breaking from defence following a Saints corner and it took a good stop from Cross to deny them again in the 28th.
Two more corners for Saints came to nothing before, with a minute of the half remaining, Max Crisp put a good chance into the side netting.
Half time: Southam United 1 Bromsgrove Sporting 1
Saints opened up well in the second half, with Chris Bright shooting over the bar after a free kick was half cleared by keeper Jake Bedford and then a good move involving Lee Thomas and Crisp saw Bridges through, but his shot lacked real power.
Christopher Conway became Sporting's first substitution just after the hour, replacing Joe Adams, before Saints were forced to make a change shortly after when Suki Nijjar took over from the limping Bridges, with the captain's armband passing to Cross.
A superb shot into the top corner by Thomas put Saints back in front in the 74th minute, after a good exchange of passing with Bright, but the lead was short-lived as Sporting were back level when the defence failed to clear a free kick and Sam Wills fired home.
With the action end to end, Cross saved at the near post from McKenzie before Sporting went ahead for the first time in the match in the 79th. The ball was lobbed over the defence and McKenzie ran through to beat Cross low down.
Another chance went begging for Sporting and then Conway beat Cross, only for Matty Hunt to clear off the line. Saints almost squared it on the stroke of full time, but substitute Stefan Grudzinksi's shot came back off the post.
Southam United: Tom Cross, Jack Brighton, Lee Thomas, Myles Jones, Matty Hunt, Max Crisp (Stefan Grudzinski 85), Chris Bright (anfdy Yeates 76), James Hardie, Tunde Ajibade, Louis Bridges [Capt] (Suki Nijjar 62), Calum Yeates
Subs not used: Quentin Townsend, James Keller
Bromsgrove Sporting (4-4-2): Jake Bedford, Jack Wilson, Craig Jones, Scott Smith, Daniel Morris, Reece Hewitt, Aaron Williams, Joe Adams (Christopher Conway 61) Will Tibbetts (Sean Brain 62), Sam Wills Joshua McKenzie (Jozsef Jakab 89)
Subs not used: Samual Delaney, Christopher Duggan
Match officials: Referee Scott Postin, Assistants Paul Rodway and Adam Jeffrey, Fourth official Tom Reeves
Attn: 550
Player of the match: James Hardie |