With Feckenham in Cup action today, Sporting took advantage to go top of the League for the first time. Playing in the grounds of a stately home Sporting never quite raised their game to suit the surroundings. Injuries and work commitments led to a number of team changes and The Rouslers did not play with their recent fluency, never really imposing themselves on their committed and determined hosts. They did however create the better goal scoring opportunities and three points were a deserved reward for their hard work.
On another cold afternoon with temperatures only just above freezing the game took some time to get going. The first real chance fell to Zac Blood on 21 minutes with a cross shot that Blount turned behind for a corner from which Brookes headed just wide.
Although Sporting were starting to get on top the defence had to be wary of Enville danger man Luke Peniket who beat the offside trap on 24 minutes but shot narrowly wide. A pattern was being established of Sporting dominance with Enville looking to find Peniket on the break, which they did again on 28 minutes with their leading scorer again shooting narrowly wide.
With halftime and a welcome retreat to the warmth of the clubhouse imminent Sporting took the lead, Zac Blood's right wing free kick being deflected in off a defender.
Enville carried the attack to Sporting in the second half and a fine move on 50 minutes saw Hamilton and Reynolds combine to release Peniket, Sporting being saved by a marginal offside decision. Soon afterwards Peniket threatened again but was thwarted by a fine block by Nick Allen.
The game was becoming increasingly physical and a flurry of yellow cards was shown around the hour mark, Enville's Becke being the first for a crude foul followed by Griffiths and Shenton after squaring up to each other. Zac Blood soon joined them in the book for a foul.
Sporting were playing mainly on the counter attack but creating good chances. On 66 minutes Shaun May shot wide from a good position and two minutes later Blood and Maynard combined down Sporting's left to set up Wilkes whose close range shot was well saved by Blount.
Still Enville threatened and Nick Allen's last-ditch tackle stopped Peniket as he prepared to shoot. Then May had a shot saved before Wilkes was brought down inside the area, the referee waving play on. Play moved to the other end where Peniket's shot was only parried by McGettrick, a certain goal being prevented by a fine tackle by Griffiths.
Enville had a penalty appeal turned down on 81 minutes after Round went down under a challenge. Sporting's best chance of the half came in added time when Dan Wilkes was put through but blazed over. This was the last action of the game as the temperature dropped and the light began to fade.
This was a much more searching test for Sporting than some recent games and a win to be savoured all the more. And even if Feckenham do have games in hand it�s good to be top.
Enville: James Blount, Matt Watts (Lewis Round 70 mins), Ben Taylor-Cohen, Ian Rose, Stuart Heathcock, James Reynolds, Luke Peniket, Paul Becke, Martin Shenton, Cerryg O'Donovan, Richard Hamilton.
Subs Not Used: Matt Baxter, Nemaniah Browne, Meshach Duncan.
Sporting. Jim McGettrick, Chris Bright, Nick Allen, Ryan Molesworth, Richard Griffiths (Jamie McKeon 83 mins), Joe Brookes, Dan Wilkes, Nick Harris, Shaun Maynard, Shaun May (Dylan Townsend 87 mins), Zac Blood.
Subs Not Used: Barnes: Stewart Brighton, Jordan Siviter. |