SUPERB Bromsgrove Sporting extended their lead at the top of the Midland Division One after a stunning display to thrash title rivals Coventry United at the Victoria Ground.
A 12th win in 13 league games means the Rouslers have a four point lead at the summit.
While Coventry still have two games in hand and the title race remains tight, this was a significant match that saw the momentum swing in Bromsgrove's favour.
A record crowd of 924 were treated to a goal fest as strikes by Sean Brain, Connor Collins and Reece Hewitt powered the hosts into a 3-0 lead.
United rallied and Ross Briscoe pulled a goal back but Aaron Roberts effort sealed a thoroughly deserved win for Bromsgrove, despite a late goal for Chris Cox.
Sporting raced into a 3-0 lead with three goals in seven minutes.
United had edged the opening ten minutes with some neat build-up play but the home side's pace and directness tore them apart.
Bromsgrove opened the scoring in the 11th minute in affective route one fashion; Collins won a header from a long ball forward and the pacy Brain stole in behind the Coventry defence before slotting past keeper Richard Morris.
Two minutes later Sporting doubled their lead but this time Brain turned provider as he cut in from the right wing and found Collins, who arrowed a firm low effort into the back of the net.
Coventry were at sixes and sevens and Bromsgrove made it 3-0 in the 18th minute, when the impressive Hewitt's unstoppable effort from the edge of the area flew into the corner.
Bromsgrove defender Simon Fitter was booked for a strong challenge on United dangerman Josh O'Grady.
The away side slowly worked their way back into the game and it needed a fine save by keeper Chris Jay, who showed razor sharp reactions to keep out Matt Brown's close range effort.
The home side had to replace the injured Will Tibbetts in the 39th minute with Jake Wilson.
It could have been 4-0 in the 41st minute but Liam Spink fired over an open goal after great work by Brain.
Coventry made a change at the start of the second half when Brown was replaced by Muziwandile Nduna.
Brain nearly added a fourth goal in the 48th minute but volleyed over form Wilson's lobbed delivery.
But United pulled a goal back in the 55th minute. Jay could only punch a cross from the left into the path of Briscoe, who hooked the ball home.
But Sporting restored their three-goal lead in the 64th minute when they exposed poor defender from a corner.
It was too easy for Craig Jones to head the ball into the path of a Roberts at the far post, who smashed the ball into the back of the net.
The hosts were denied a certain penalty in the 75th minute when Brain was pulled back in the box by defender Jamie Coleman but the referee ignored the home fans pleas.
Brain nearly capped a fine display with another effort but his shot rolled across the face of goal.
Coventry grabbed an 89th minute consolation from the sport when Cox slotted his penalty into the bottom left corner.
Sporting: Jay, Roberts, Willcox, Walker (Dugmore, 64), Jones, Fitter, Tibbetts (Wilson, 39), Hewitt, Collins (Wills, 80), Spink, Brain.
Subs not used: Kelly, Turner.
Coventry: Morris, Glascoe, Vallance, Mussa (J Blake, 68), Prinzel, Coleman, O'Grady, Blythe, Brown (Nduna, 46), Cox, Briscoe. |