An impressive first half performance from Bromsgrove Sporting ensured they ran out 5-0 win over bottom side North Leigh.
All the goals from the game came inside the opening forty-five; Jason Cowley opened the scoring with a fine effort for his 100th goal for the club, before Kyle Lincoln opened his Sporting account with a commanding header four minutes later.
A mere minute later it was three, as Kieren Westwood neatly slotted home, with the fourth coming 20 minutes in, courtesy of Cameron Peters tapping home from close range.
Cowley completed the scoring on the 40th minute with a powerfully struck effort from a tight angle past opposition keeper Edward Cavanagh.
The best chance of the second half was actually for North Leigh, via a penalty. Up stepped Henry Landers, who struck low down to Jono Brown's right but found the Sporting stopper equal to his effort with an impressive save.
The demolition job began eight minutes in, as Cowley reached his landmark with a rip-roaring half volley from just inside the area that clattered the underside of the crossbar before going in.
Four minutes later it was two, as a Jake Heath corner found the head of Lincoln, who buried the ball into the net, before Peters teed up Westwood, who made it three with an effortless drive into the North Leigh goal.
The goals continued to rain down on Cavanagh's goal, with the fourth coming after just 20 minutes - the imposing Lincoln showed grit and determination to get to the ball and poke it into Peters, who slotted home easily with most of the goal at his mercy.
The fifth coming on the 40th minute, as Heath selflessly played Cowley through, allowing him to power home with a ferocious drive to notch up goal 101, in front of a joyous and awestruck Town End, who had simply been treated to an exquisite half of attacking football.
The second half was far less action packed; Brown was called into action in a major way in between the Sporting sticks just three minutes after the interval, as he saved Landers' penalty shortly following a foul from Liam Spink just inside the area.
On the hour mark, North Leigh captain Harry Grant was shown a red card for a dangerous challenge on Cowley, which truly put an end to the spirited start to the half from the visitors.
Josh Quaynor blazed a free kick over the bar after 66 minutes, which was soon followed by substitute John Pykett forcing Cavanagh into a full stretch save with a wonderfully curled left footed effort.
The best of the remaining chances for Sporting came inside the final five minutes; substitute and under-18s hotshot Matt Higgins almost scored his first goal for the senior side, but saw it ruled out for offside and Pykett had a free kick comfortably saved from just outside the area after being fouled himself off the back of a marauding run.
No goals in the second half, but it wasn't to matter, as Sporting ran out facile winners and ensured they remain top of the league, heading into a weekend off before playing Welwyn Garden City on 16 March. |