Unbeaten run comes to an end
By Ian East
Diddy's 8 game unbeaten run ended by high flying Bromsgrove Sporting.
Didcot's 8 match unbeaten run came to a halt on Tuesday evening after a 3-1 loss at 2nd placed Bromsgrove Sporting, the final scoreline being somewhat ironically the same score as the first encounter between these 2 sides that was ended by floodlight failure at half time.
The Railwaymen were given the rare luxury of naming an unchanged side from the team that had won convincingly at Aylesbury Utd, however there were to be none of the same early fireworks as both teams struggled to get their game going. Bromsgrove looked the more likely but some desperate defending by Carnell and Learoyd kept the hosts at bay.
It took until the 34th minute for their to be a real noteworthy attempt from either side, Leigh Bedwell in the Didcot goal had to be at his best to turn a low shot to his left around the post and then caught the resultant corner to keep Didcot at level terms. 2 minutes later however the hosts did take the lead, a long raking cross field ball from the right hand side sailed over the Didcot defence and landed at the feet of Jason Cowley at the back post, the forward took once touch and rifled a left footed shot below Bedwell and into the corner to give Bromsgrove the advantage.
There was still little coming from Didcot in terms of their own attacking threat in fact it took until first half stoppage time for the Railwaymen to have their first meaningful effort as John Dennis put a left footed shot over the bar.
Half time. Bromsgrove Sporting 1-0 Didcot Town
Whatever was said in the Diddy dressing room at half time seemed to have an impact as it was Didcot who forced the early play without really creating much of note, the passing was better as Didcot committed more men forward and Lance Williams had a claim for a penalty when Greg Hackett's cut back looked to find the forward but he was challenged from behind by Jack Wilson who prodded the ball away at the same time as challenging Williams.
The sucker punch then came in the 61st minute, just as Didcot were looking the stronger of the sides Bromsgrove won a dubious free kick and the ball was whipped into the box and straight onto the head of the unmarked Craig Jones and the centre back powered a header passed Bedwell for 2-0 from the first real chance Bromsgrove had in the 2nd half.
Didcot then rang the changes as Taverner, Morgan Williams and David Murphy were all introduced as Didcot changed shape and went desperately in search of a way back into the contest. Bromsgrove happy with their lead were defending extremely well limiting Didcot to pot shots from distance and defending the long throws and corners with relative ease.
The clock ticked into the 90th minute and Didcot managed to get their goal, Taverner attempted a shot from the edge of the box that was blocked but the ball ballooned up to Callum McNish who smartly volleyed the ball home first time from Didcot's only real attempt on target. It still set up a potentially frantic last couple of minutes of the game. Didcot now with everyone forward hurled a long throw into the box which was scrambled clear and suddenly Sporting were on the break, a clever pass through set Cowley clear and he slotted the ball home to wrap up the points for the hosts.
Full Time Bromsgrove Sporting 3-1 Didcot Town
Didcot Team
Bedwell
Barder
McNeill
Hayden (Murphy)
Carnell
Learoyd
Dennis
McNish
L Williams
Humphries (Taverner)
Hackett (M Williams)
Subs not used Gardner,Ballard |