Braces for both Reece Hewitt and Josh McKenzie helped continue Bromsgrove Sporting's unbeaten start in the league, as they demolished Heather St. Johns 7-2 at the Victoria Ground on Saturday afternoon.
The home side came out the blocks flying, with McKenzie almost opening the scoring inside the first minute. Unfortunately, his diving header from Dale Edwards' cross went wide of the post.
However, they didn't have much longer to wait for the first goal. On the seventh minute, new signing Liam Spink marked his competitive debut with a stunning strike just outside the penalty area, which bounced off the crossbar and into the net.
Sporting could have had two more within the space of five minutes. McKenzie put another header wide and Sam Wills had a free kick well saved by Ben Allsop. The 30th minute saw them double their lead; a coolly taken penalty by Reece Hewitt after McKenzie was upended in the box whilst on a threatening run.
Two minutes later, McKenzie got the goal that is graft deserved. A pinpoint cross was met with an accurate header, guided towards the bottom corner.
It seemed as though Bromsgrove would enter the break with little to worry but that wasn't to be the case. Heather striker Jonathan Jackson-Berarey managed to shrug off the defender and slot the ball into net, leaving Shaun Edwards with no chance.
There were further causes for concern for Sporting twenty minutes into the second half, as Heather reduced the deficit to one. A goalmouth scramble resulted in centre back and captain Daniel Wain dispatching the ball home.
Sporting regained the two-goal cushion on the 70th minute. Hewitt received the ball in the box, calmly took it around keeper Allsop and was left with the easiest of finishes, scoring into an empty net for his second.
He could have completed the hat-trick ten minutes later after winning a penalty by being fouled just inside the area, but his second spot kick didn't have the power to get by Allsop, who held onto the ball well.
However, Sporting weren't left to rue this miss for long. A brilliant last ten minutes saw the Rouslers net three more. Luke Dugmore fired home into the bottom corner, Josh McKenzie claim his brace as his shot squirmed under the keeper into the goal and substitutes John Pykett and Sean Brain team up effectively, with Pykett whipping in a delicious cross for Brain, who had the simplest of one-on-ones.
Despite Heather's short lived attempt to get back into the game, this was eventually a routine win for Sporting, with the away side's defence unable to cope with attacking flair of Hewitt, McKenzie, Spink et al.
Sporting: Shaun Edwards, Aaron Roberts, Brendan Kelly, Scott Smith, James McKeon, Luke Dugmore, Liam Spink (Sean Brain 63 mins), Reece Hewitt, Josh McKenzie, Sam Wills, Dale Edwards (John Pykett 71 mins).
Unused substitutes: Brendon Bunn, Joe Adams, Ollie Gibson.
Goals: Liam Spink (7 mins), Reece Hewitt (31 [pen], 70 mins), Josh McKenzie (33, 85 mins), Sean Brain (86 mins).
Cards: none
Heather: Ben Allsop, Kristian Raine-Thrall (Brandon Land 53 mins), Jacob Sturgess, Grant Ryder, Daniel Wain, Scott Goodby, Jurelle Philip, Andrew Kenny (Scott Handley 77 mins), Jonathan Jackson-Berarey, Matthew Oliver, Sam Hickling.
Unused substitutes: Conor Wright, Charles Wood, Harry Wood
Goals: Jonathan Jackson-Berarey (41 mins), Daniel Wain (63 mins)
Yellows: Daniel Wain (31 mins), Grant Ryder (40 mins), Jacob Sturgess (89 mins)
Referee: Mr T Jones (Hereford)
Assistants: Mr T Palmer (Droitwich), Mr R McIlravey (Bromsgrove)
Crowd: 294
Weather: Warm, overcast
Sporting MoM: Luke Dugmore |