BROMSGROVE SPORTING 0 NUNEATON GRIFF 1 14 Feb, 2016
Griff have been noted for their giantkilling this season, and none comes any bigger that at Bromsgrove against a team on the end of a ten game winning run in front of a large 364 partizan crowd. With a squad reduced in numbers the visitors set their stall out with Darren Eggleton and Ryan Slinn coming into the line-up in place of Ashley Wilks and Dave Barnett and Luke Shorthouse came off the bench to notch up his twenty seventh goal of the season!
The Heartlanders defended the slope first and it was Sporting who threw them back early on with Nathan Walker curling a free-kick just over and George Woodward pushing one shot away and then tipping another shot over the bar. Griff were defending deep and hitting on the break and it almost worked as Danny Harris and Josh Ruff worked the ball to Alex Naughton but goalkeeper Chris Jay saved well.
The post came to Griff's rescue as Sean Brain flicked a corner ball on but then Bromsgrove had two let-offs as the visitors ended the half on top, Josh Ruff weaved through but with just the goalkeeper to beat his shot was well saved. On the half-time whistle it was Ruff again who beat Jay but the ball hit the inside of the post and the keeper managed to grab it before it crossed the line.
An exciting half was followed by another in this no-ends-barred contest, Kyle Baxter cleared off the line from a Craig Jones header and on the break a Danny Edmonds shot was diverted just wide.
On sixty eight minutes Griff took the lead, Mark Williams cleared to Ben Ashby who found Luke Shorthouse and the big man turned his marker to fire a low shot into the far corner. They should then probably have doubled their lead as Edmond went through one on one with the Rouslers goalkeeper but it was Jay who came out on top!
Sporting threw everything at the visitors in the final ten minutes and came close to gaining a point when Dale Edwards worked the ball well out wide and when he pulled the ball back it was Nathan Walker who fired in a shot which hit the post, the fourth time it had happened in the game, two each side!
The Nuneatonians held out to the end with Ryan Millerchip earning Star Man billing. he and Darren Eggleton were the big rocks in the heart of defence upon which the Sporting attacks floundered.
Nuneaton Griff:
Woodward, Harris, Astley, Eggleton, Millerchip, Williams, Slinn (Ashby 57), Baxter, Naughton (Shorthouse 57), Edmond (Brennan 90), Ruff. Subs not used: Aston, Gilks.
Bromsgrove Sporting:
Jay, Roberts, Kelly (Edwards 74), Walker, Jones, Wilcox, Tibbetts, Hewitt, Collins (Wills 59), Spink (Turner 59), Brain. Subs not used: Fisher, Hanks.
Referee:
Tom Reeves (Coventry) |