The heavy rain stopped just before the kick-off at North Leigh's delightful stadium in the grounds of Eynsham Hall just north of Oxford and then the sun came out and shined on Bromsgrove Sporting for the next ninety minutes.
There was early drama in the first minute when Jason Cowley threaded a neat pass to Will Shorrock in the box resulting in a heavy tackle from Leigh captain Ben Brown but fortunately for the home side, referee Mr Emery signalled no penalty. From then on it was pretty relentless pressure from the away side for the next quarter hour as all Sporting's forward and midfield players had decent chances with the best going to Richard Gregory on the 10th minute forcing Leigh 'keeper Eddie Cavanagh into a good tip over.
North Leigh though started to push forward and get back into the game and could have taken the lead had Henry Landers arrived a split second earlier for George Seacole's cross.
However it was Sporting who finally got their noses in front on the 28th minute when 'keeper Dan Crane punted a fine ball into the Leigh half to John Pykett, he crossed to Cowley who fired home with a hard shot well wide of Cavenagh's outstretched right arm.
Leigh were lucky not to concede a penalty nine minutes later when Cavenagh clattered Cowley in the box but moments before Mr Emery had blown for an offside.
Sporting though doubled their lead in added time and again it was Will Shorrock who supplied the Pykett, Cowley delivery line as the winger crossed to the striker who made no mistake with a low angled drive.
As expected the home outfit came out for the second half looking more determined and what looked like a certain goal four minutes in the half from Seacole got deflected out for a corner. Four minutes later Jack Tutton robbed Shorrock but blasted his shot over the bar when it was easier to score.
However they did get a deserved goal on the 60th minute when Landers skilfully avoided a tackle took the ball round Crane and tapped into an open goal.
That bought Sporting to their senses who realised that they needed to get back into the game. Substitute Jake Heath duly delivered on 73 minutes for Sporting's third with a great strike from just inside the penalty area into the middle of the net.
Number four came from a well-struck Richard Gregory penalty after Rory Linford-Pill needlessly upended Shorrock. Sporting's fifth and final goal and probably the best of the match was in the 88th minute following some lovely footwork by Shorrock who passed to Gregory who then looped the ball over the advancing Cavanagh.
A disappointing end with Cowley getting a dubious yellow card in added time after catching Cavenagh with a follow through despite getting to the ball first.
Summarising the match, assistant manager Andy Mason said "I thought we were back at our best today and deserved the result".
So with Corby Town losing at Peterborough Sports, Sporting moved back to the top of the division and now look to maintain that position with a home match against Aylesbury next Saturday.
North Leigh: Eddie Cavanagh, Rory Linford-Pill, Nathan Simms, Jack Tutton, Ben Brown (Capt.), Declan Peart, Roger James (Joshua Pinn 76 mins), Gila Siyando, George Seacole, Henry Landers (Alfie Saunders 83 mins), Noah Alabi.
Substitutes not used: Andy Gunn, Eddie Stevens.
Goal: Henry Landers (60 mins)
Yellow: Rory Linford-Pill (85 mins).
Sporting: Dan Crane, Aaron Roberts, Jack Wilson, Nathan Hayward (Ashanti Pryce 82 mins), Craig Jones (Capt), Danny Morris, John Pykett (Jack Cresswell 79 mins), Josh Quaynor (Jake Heath 58 mins), Jason Cowley, Richard Gregory, Will Shorrock.
Unused subs: Tom Taylor, Cameron Peters.
Goals: Jason Cowley (28, 45+1 mins), Richard Gregory (79 pen, 88 mins), Jake Heath (73 mins)
Yellows: Nathan Hayward (22 mins), Aaron Roberts (27 mins), Josh Quaynor (35 mins), Jason Cowley (90+3 mins)
Referee: Mr A Emery (Rochester)
Assistants: Mr D Jacobs (Oxford), Mr K Dolphin (Banbury)
Sporting MoM: Jason Cowley
Crowd: 177
Weather: Bright, damp. |