WMPFC came crashing back down to Earth today, suffering a heavy defeat to Division 1 title contenders Bromsgrove Sporting. With the Police missing three key players from the side that has won the last five games, today was always going to be a tough test without Adams, Mitchell and September player of the month Paul Brogan. Sporting arrived with a large away support and amongst their ranks was ex-Police midfielder Joe Brookes.
Sporting stated the game on fire and came at the Police with the full force of their attack. They created chance after chance to test Dalglish in the Police goal. WMPFC were on the rack and with last ditch challenges by Roobottom and Dalglish making save after save, a Sporting goal was only a matter of time. The break through came on 14 minutes when a searching through ball down the right channel, found the excellent bending run of the Sporting striker who then squared the ball to his strike partner in the box. He opened his body up and curled the ball past Dalglish, in off the post and in. The Police stopper was called into action 2 minutes later when the Sporting centre half was allowed to carry the ball for 30 yards and he unleashed a long range shot that was well saved. Sporting doubled their lead minutes later when Jarratt and Lewis were out by the speedy winger who nipped in to steal the ball, who again squared for the striker to finish.
The Police pulled a goal back to provide a glimmer of hope and against the run of play. Debutant Lawrence Shannon broke up the play and won the ball in the middle of the park. He played in Steve Windle who calmly picked his spot from the edge of the box and slotted home.
Despite this way back into the game, Sporting again came at the Police and minutes later Hodge was caught too deep and played the striker on side who then shot from the edge of the box. It was well saved by Dalglish and then desperately headed clear and over the bar by Roobottom.
A minute before the half time break the referee seemed to want to take part in the action and give the large Sporting crowd more to cheer about. Matt Lewis managed to get to the ball first and was up ended by the Sporting striker, who also tumbled in the challenge. To the shock of everyone on the pitch and in the ground, the referee saw it as a foul and awarded a penalty to Sporting. The returning Joe Brookes stepped up and powered home.
With the stuffing knocked out of us at half time, WMPFC made a disastrous start to the second half, conceding three goals in five minutes. Dalglish misjudging a long free kick, Hodge giving away a penalty and Roobottom being turned inside out, all lead to Sporting goals, who were displaying excellent level of finishing.
Police gave a more spirited performance in the last half an hour and created chances but Holliday's chip narrowly went over the bar and Steve Windle saw his chance saved well by the keeper. James Kerr was a late sub for his debut and tried to stamp his mark on the game. His eagerness proved a bit too aggressive for the referee who booked him for a late challenge and he was lucky not to have seen red in the final stages for another late challenge. Hodge also picked up a caution for kicking out as the frustrations of the heavy defeat started to get the better of the Police players.
The end of our unbeaten run and now Police shift our focus to Saturdays Birmingham Vase visit of Division 2 leaders Aston FC |