Bromsgrove Sporting were at their ruthless best on Saturday afternoon, as they subjected second bottom Pelsall Villa to a 10-0 drubbing in the Midland Football League Division One.
Second half hat tricks from Jason Cowley and substitute Andy Nicol, along with goals from Luke Shorthouse, Liam Spink, Tom Craine and Sam Wills, ensured the vast majority of the 753 crowd were to go home happy.
With both Hinckley and Leicester Road getting three points, Sporting remained ten points clear at the top with a game in hand, knowing four wins from their remaining eight fixtures will see them crowned champions.
The Rouslers dominated early proceedings but would have to wait 20 minutes for the opener, as Shorthouse added to his two goals from Tuesday evening with a simple header after a pinpoint cross from Spink.
Shorthouse almost doubled his tally a minute later, having dispossessed goalkeeper Scott Bannister in somewhat comical fashion but was unable to find the open goal from an awkward position, with both players lying on the ground at the time.
Pelsall had chances of their own, as Mitchell Teece saw his tame shot easily saved by Jonathan Brown when through on goal and Thomas Baggott had two headers in quick succession, one brilliantly tipped over by Brown whilst the other went wide.
Sporting’s second would come two minutes before the interval, with Shorthouse turning provider this time around for Spink, who’s confidently struck volley glanced the head of Michael Murray before going in.
Keeper Brown had to be called upon again soon after the break but he was equal to Osiris Robertson’s firmly struck effort from range.
Chances for the visitors were very few and far between thereafter and Cowley’s coolly struck penalty on the 53rd minute after being hauled down by Bannister soon signalled the end of the game as a contest and the opening of the proverbial floodgates.
Cowley had the bit between his teeth at this point too and a six minute hat trick soon beckoned.
His second, and Sporting’s 100th league goal of the season, was a real treat for eyes, as he took bedazzled defenders on at will, finishing his dexterous run with a neat dink over Bannister.
His third was a little simpler, as captain Wills found Cowley with an accurate cross, leaving an easy header from no more than six yards to make it 5-0.
Pelsall may have thought the pressure would relent slightly as Cowley, Shorthouse and Ahmed Ali made way for Nicol, Craine and the lively John Pykett 62 minutes in but this was far from the case.
A Reece Hewitt cross found the head of Tom Craine, who saw his effort tipped over well by Bannister and this was shortly followed by the second penalty of the afternoon, as a Pelsall defender was adjudged to have handled on the line.
Up stepped Nicol and a rippling bottom corner spelled 6 for Bromsgrove.
Twenty minutes to go and the chances were still coming; Pykett having a low shot well saved by Bannister, whilst Brown’s concentration was tested as Osiris Robertson had another decent effort palmed away by the in-form Sporting stopper.
Despite Spink coming off with injury and thus reducing the Rouslers to ten men, there were clearly no signs of them easing up on their battered opponents.
Craine became the fourth striker to get on the scoresheet with eight minutes left, as he collected Aaron Roberts’ cross inside the box, turned his defender and took his effort well, leaving Bannister no chance.
Pykett had another chance after fighting to win the ball back following a mazy run but had his shot kept out, the eighth eventually coming courtesy of a Nicol header into an open goal, made possible by Craine poaching the ball away from an oncoming Bannister.
Craine managed to capitalise on a defensive mix up but could only find the outstretched leg of Bannister but the keeper had no chance with the ninth, as Wills’ beautiful curling effort from 20 yards found the bottom corner with aplomb.
Sporting would reach double figures three minutes into injury time, as a Craine corner found a leaping Nicol, who’s header hit the underside of the crossbar before going in.
A stupendous afternoon for Paul Smith’s men, as they take another confident step towards promotion. |