Bromsgrove Sporting continued their flawless start to the Midland Football League Division One, as they beat Hinckley AFC 3-0 at the Victoria Ground on Tuesday evening.
A sweetly struck Keenen Meakin-Richards free kick helped put Sporting on the road to victory before a brace of Ahmed Ali headers allowed them to ease to their third league win in as many games.
Both came courtesy of pinpoint Jack Wilson crosses, with the first being glanced across the six yard box and into the bottom corner and the second an emphatically thumped effort that left Hinckley keeper Haydn Whitcombe helpless.
The evening did not get off to the best of starts for the influential Ali, as his misplaced backpass gave Sam Agar a glorious chance of giving the visitors the lead. However, the Hinckley forward found his one on one effort expertly saved by the assured Chris Jay.
The opener came seventeen minutes into proceedings after Tony Clarke was upended twenty five yards out. The resultant free kick was beautifully guided into the net by Meakin-Richards.
The Rouslers could have doubled their lead only a minute after the goal, with Robbie Bunn's firmly hit twenty yard strike well saved by Whitcombe.
Ali's impact was shown to good effect on the half hour mark, as his header found Tony Clarke, whose lobbed effort ultimately landed well wide of the post.
The two goal cushion came seven minutes from the half time whistle, as Wilson's enticing cross into the box found the head of Ali, who nonchalantly nodded home, much to the elation of the Sporting faithful.
Hinckley almost pulled one back not long after, as Agar attempted to lob keeper Jay, who ultimately watched the ball land on top of the net.
Substitute Will Tibbetts hit the ground running as soon as he came on, with his cross on 60 minutes finding Chris Lloyd, whose volleyed shot was kept out by Newcombe.
Hinckley had chances to get onto the scoresheet but were wasteful with the opportunities that came their way. Former Sporting player Darious Darkin's shot from inside the area sailed over the bar before an Isaac Cooper cross failed to find a visiting attacker, instead being palmed clear by Jay.
Sporting's third saw the potent combination of Wilson and Ali team up once again, as Wilson's cross from the left wing found Ali perfectly, who simply had to confidently head home to seal all three points for Paul Smith's side nine minutes from time.
Bunn had a chance to add a fourth after being cleverly set up by Clarke but his shot was quickly blocked by a Hinckley defender.
Another consummate victory from Bromsgrove, who put their FA Cup exit on Saturday firmly behind them, retaining their top of the league status and 100% clean sheet league record in the process.
Reflecting on his match winning performance, Ali said: "To be fair, I didn't start too good today. I gave away an early chance but yeah, two goals is good. But we've got to work together, only three games in, 35 to go. We know if we don't play well then we can get beat.
I'm new to the team and the gaffer has told us were challenging for the title as long as we keep going."
Attendance: 420
Man Of The Match: Ahmed Ali |