The Les James Challenge Cup Tuesday 20th September 2011 7.45 p.m.
Bromsgrove Sporting 3 (3) v (1) 2 Inkberrow
Bromsgrove Sporting bounced back from their weekend defeat with a cup win against a spirited Inkberrow side. In truth the win was probably more comfortable than the score line suggested. Stewart Brighton took the opportunity to blood a couple of reserve players in the first team and full back Chris Neilson put in an assured performance that bodes well for the future.
Sporting started slowly but went ahead with their first meaningful attack as Ryan Molesworth caused havoc in the right channel and drew a reckless challenge from Inberrow's centre back which brought a penalty scored by Jamie Rogers who drilled the ball down the middle as the keeper dived out of the way.
Midway through the half Sporting got careless and allowed Inkberrow a free header in the box, from a cross and were duly punished. However, it took the home side only a minute to go back in front in fortunate circumstances. Midfielder George Curry hit a shot from around 25 yards which took a wicked deflection off a defender and looped over the keeper and into the net to make it 2 - 1.
Sporting continued to look dangerous and Jon Rogers almost set up Odane Barnes as he wriggled free and passed across the box but Barnes shot was blocked on the line. When the third goal came it was from a Neil Cooksey header. A corner was crossed into the box and cleared to Jamie Rogers who crossed the ball back in and Cooksey nodded in unmarked from six yards.
Sporting went in 3 -1 up at the interval and the second half followed a pattern with the home side not looking in danger but threatening Inkberrow without finding the final ball to add to the score line. The biggest culprit was Barnes who managed to put a free header from a corner wide of the target with the goal unattended.
An unfortunate call by the referee led indirectly to Inkberrow getting back into the tie with around 10 minutes left as Joe Brookes brought the ball out of defence over half way and was fouled. As it looked as though Sporting would have an advantage the referee waved play on just as Brookes stumbled and lost the ball. With the Sporting centre back out of position, Inkberrow broke and used the space vacated to capitalise and score their second goal.
Whilst the opposition then tried to even the game up Sporting also had opportunities to kill the game off but eventually time ran out with Sporting emerging victorious to face an away trip to either Feckenham or Greenhill in the next round.
Sporting Team; Biddle, Neilson , Rogers G, Cooksey, Brookes, Curry (Wilkes), Molesworth, Rogers Ja (Jenvey), Barnes, Rogers Jon, Harris Subs not used; Blood, Griffiths, Whitehouse
Sporting Man of the Match: Neil Cooksey |