Sporting maintained their promotion challenge in an entertaining game in the picturesque and aromatic surroundings of Bournville although not without surviving a second half scare.
This game was a definite contrast of styles. Sporting playing their usual neat passing game. The hosts, although kitted out like bars of Dairy Milk, had little that was smooth in their physical and often crude play. Neither was there was much smooth about the pitch, which was far from the billiard table surface we had been led to expect.
Sporting twice went close in the opening minutes, Siviter heading over and Molesworth hitting the bar with a close range shot. Driven forward by the excellent Jamie Rogers, Sporting passed and retained the ball well and controlled much of the first half. They did not create many chances but with Cadbury's keeper looking uncertain and centre half Perry an accident waiting to happen, the first goal was a matter of when and not if. Perry duly obliged on 39 minutes conceding a penalty with a needless handball, Jamie Rogers converting the spot kick. The Cadbury bench protested strongly, claiming that the passage of play leading to the penalty had started from a Sporting throw that should have awarded to them.
There was time for the Rouslers to score again before half time. In added time Joe Brookes played a superb pass from deep to release Zac Blood on the left flank. His low centre reached Jamie Siviter who turned and shot into the bottom right hand corner.
Sporting began the second half on the offensive and came close to extending the lead when Hall's header was cleared off the line. After 53 minutes Cadbury scored with a real bolt from the blue. Craig Brooks received the ball 25 yards out and with little obvious danger for Sporting hit a spectacular shot that bent and dipped, Cooksey not moving as it hit the bottom left hand corner. From the restart Sporting nearly restored the two goal advantage. Ryan Molesworth's shot lacked power but goal keeper Biddle made a hash of it and almost fumbled it into the net, grabbing the ball with relief as it came back off the post. Then Bright had a shot turned behind before Allen headed against the outside of the post from a corner.
When Cadbury's did attack Brooks was causing problems for the Rouslers' defence. On 63 minutes he was brought down inside the area to give the hosts a chance to equalise. Neil Cooksey was unlucky, saving the penalty and a follow up shot before the ball ran loose to Brooks who scored from close range.
Sporting have proved themselves a team of character with the ability to respond to setbacks and on 69 minutes they were back in front, Siviter scoring from Molesworth's cross.
After that the Rouslers played out the remaining time fairly comfortably and although Duncan went close near the end. Siviter and Molesworth might have extended the lead.
These were three well earned points. Sporting controlled much of the game and played some excellent football. The defence did, however, struggle at times in the second half and will need to be tighter in the season defining games coming up.
Cadbury Athletic: Grant Biddle, Chris Thorn, Andrew Cook, Adam Osborne (Josh Kelly 64), James Perry (Nick Watkins 76), Nehemiah Browne (Sam Adams 75), Arran Pedley, Elliott Smith, Craig Brooks, Meshach Duncan, Luke Ellett
Subs Not Used: Ryan Banfield, Jon Slater
Sporting. Neil Cooksey, Chris Bright, Gareth Rogers, Joe Brookes, Nick Allen, Nick Harris, Ryan Molesworth, Jamie Rogers, Stuart Hall (Odane Barnes 81), Jamie Siviter, Zac Blood (Danny Lismore 75)
Subs Not Used: Stewart Brighton, James McKeon, Richard Griffiths |