BROMSGROVE Sporting ensured they would see out the league season at home unbeaten, as they beat Coleshill Town 2-0 on Easter Monday.
Second half strikes from Kieren Westwood and Richard Gregory guided the Rouslers to victory in their 19th and final regulation league fixture at the Victoria Ground this season, with the play-off semi final on 1st May.
The first half was a rather abject affair in truth, with both sides failing to get a proper foothold in the game.
Reece Leek and Giovanni Dainty had early half chances for the visitors, whilst Charlie Dowd caused the Coleshill defence trouble in the opening stages, which included a shot from an acute angle that drew a simple save from Paul Hathaway.
The best opportunities came inside the final 10 minutes of the half; firstly, 35 minutes in, Nathan Hayward capped off a fine Sporting move with a ferocious effort from 25 yards that would have been destined for the top corner if it was not for a fine interception from a flying Hathaway.
On the stroke of half time, it appeared as though Coleshill were going to take the lead, as Matthew Gardner looked as though he had gotten past Jono Brown, but the Sporting stopper's outstretched palm stops him in his tracks.
It once again looked as though The Colemen were going to go a goal up as they were given a penalty three minutes into the second half after Kyle Lincoln was judged to have felled Amarvir Sandhu in the box.
However, Brown managed to block out what was a poor spot kick from Leek to keep the scores level.
From there onwards, the tide seemed to turn; soon after, Jason Cowley curled a free kick narrowly wide from 20 yards but it would be long before Sporting took the lead, as on the 64th minute, Westwood capitalised on some sloppy defending from Coleshill by pouncing on the ball and leathering home hard and low with a crisp half volley inside the area.
Four minutes later the lead was doubled as, from the best part of 25 yards out, Gregory found himself in plenty of space and subsequently let rip with a venomous left footed firecracker that sailed into the bottom corner.
Gregory and Cowley both have had chances to add to the tally but failed to convert their respective lobbed efforts, whilst substitute Will Shorrock, who was returning from a shoulder injury sustained in the reverse fixture on New Year's Day, capped off a fine run up the wing but cutting inside his defender and unleashing a shot on goal that was tipped over by Hathaway.
Coleshill had a late chance to reduce the deficit, but Sandhu's well struck effort from range was met with a strong palm by Brown. |