Bromsgrove Sporting quickly went into a 3 goal lead in front of a bumper crowd, Saint's Jonathon Jackson-Berarey reducing the gap before the break. Dan Wain scoring to make it 3-2 before the superior fitness of the hosts showed adding 4 more in the last 20 minutes.
Heather in the realms of rebuilding introduced two new players Jurelle Philip and Andrew Kenny to the starting line up and 2 on the bench*Brandon Land*and Charles Wood, rarely troubled the Sporting team and following extensive pressure from the hosts succumbed to a terrific strike from Liam Spink, which sailed into Ben Allsop's top right hand corner, with 8 minutes on referee Thomas Jones watch.
The lead was extended 20 minutes latter by Reece Hewitt from the spot, after Josh McKenzie had been impeded inside the area by Wain, just 4 minutes later Mckenzie scored goal number 3 when he converted a Dale Edwards cross.*
Further pressure from the "Rouslers" kept the visitors defence at bay and Heather had*Grant Ryder, skipper Wain and some great goalkeeping to thank to keep in them in the hunt.
Heather pulled a goal back just before the interval, a long punt up field found Jackson-Berarey on the edge of the box who turned sharply to rid himself of the challenge of 3 defenders to place the ball wide of the full stretched Shaun Edwards in the home goal with a superb finish.
HT BS 3-1HSJ
The second half saw Heather have the advantage of the slope but the game resembled that of the first half, the hosts dominating play and creating several chances with the Saint's defenders having to work very hard to keep the sporting at bay, also Bromsgrove were guilty of several missed chances.
Saints had to re-shuffle on 51 minutes,*Kristian Raine-Thrall*unable to continue at right back giving way to newcomer*Brandon Land*to take up a left midfield position with*Sam Hicklingdropping in to right back.
This unbalanced the Saints with the unknown Land not slipping in to the shape of the side very well.
Against the run of play Heather scored a second goal just on the hour, the host's keeper spilling the ball following a corner, Wain thumping the ball home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.*
This set up an interesting situation with just 1 goal separating the sides, but Saints again, had to reshuffle the pack when the hardworking debutant Andy "Rocky" Kenny had to be replaced having ran himself into the ground following a five month period of inactivity - goalkeeper*Scott Handley*having to come on in a striker's role with Berary dropping into the hole and*Matt Oliverforced to play in the unfavoured defensive midfield role.
This proved the most pivotal moment of the game as the superior fitness told Sporting adding further goals through Hewitt (70), Luke Dugmore (82), McKenzie completing his hat trick (85) and substitute Sean Brain (86).*
The saints playing with the bear number of players with 2 goalkeepers and 1 fit sub on the bench bravely fought on but towards the end it became shots in.*
Man of the match Allsop thwarted a second spot kick from Hewitt diving to his right to execute a tremendous save preventing a second successive eight goal haul against the Saints. |