ALTHIUM MIDLAND COMBINATION DIVISION 1
TUESDAY 9TH AUGUST 2011
BROMSGROVE SPORTING 1 LICHFIELD CITY 0
Sporting continued their good start to the season with a well earned win over Lichfield. This match never quite matched the intensity and excitement of last season's game but was open and entertaining with chances at both ends. It was the Rouslers who had the better of the game and the excellent Odane Barnes gave Lichfield's defenders a torrid evening. This was a deserved win and the only surprise is that there was only one goal.
It was Lichfield who were first to threaten, a defensive mix up allowing their striker to poke the ball past Biddle who was relieved to see Danny Lismore race back to clear. Sporting soon settled and Barnes made his first contribution with a powerful run down the right squaring to Ryan Molesworth whose shot clipped the bar. Zac Blood then played in a low centre to Hall who shot wide from a good position.
As the Rouslers dominated Lichfield looked to play on the break. Their best chances came from errors in the Sporting defence. On 10 minutes they should have taken the lead. Cooksey misjudged the bounce of the ball on the edge of the area allowing Banbury to shoot. With Biddle beaten the ball came back off the far post to Rose whose goal bound shot was superbly blocked by Lismore.
Barnes was continuing to trouble the defence and after losing his man with a deft turn he fired just over before Johnson saved well from a Hall header. The threatened goal came on 24 minutes, Barnes heading in Zac Blood's right wing centre.
Lichfield pressed for an equaliser as half time approached but a combination of good saves and blocks kept them out. In fact Sporting should have increased their lead the best opportunity falling to Molesworth who, apparently surprised not to be flagged offside as the defence pushed out, hesitated allowing Johnson to grab the ball at his feet.
The second half was more sedate. Sporting cut out the defensive errors and never looked like conceding. They had chances to increase the lead with Barnes and Hall going close. Substitute Jamie Siviter had the best chance blazing over from a good position shortly before the end. Lichfield showed their frustration with three players booked for fouls. A lengthy period of injury time was seen out comfortably and Sporting had maintained their 100% record.
The team is continuing to develop and improve. Last February Lichfield outplayed Sporting for long periods but tonight, with a majority of players on both sides having played in that earlier game, The Rouslers had the edge throughout. This was an important win and bodes well for the rest of the season.
Bromsgrove Sporting : Grant Biddle, Danny Lismore, Gareth Rogers, Joe Brookes, Neil Cooksey, George Curry, Ryan Molesworth, Jamie Rogers (C), Odane Barnes, Stuart Hall (Jamie Siviter 75 mins.), Zac Blood.
Subs unused : Kevin Banner, Jon Rogers, Spencer Hicks-Kenward, Mark Whitehouse.
Lichfield City : Craig Johnson, Dan W. Mason (C), Todd Evans, Ross Adams, Sean Westley (Daniel Worrall 46 mins.), Alex Alderson (Zak Marriot 27 mins.), Sean Williams, Lewis Bourne, Josh Banbury, Mark Rose, Dan Mason (Liam Holt 65 mins.).
Subs unused : Dan Thurstance, Ashley Bennett. |