Conditions were far from ideal down in Hertfordshire with a strong gusty wind blowing and a heavy pitch after the previous days' deluges. However both teams contrived to play entertaining football and despite some useful play by the home side, Sporting held their own and came away with a comfortable win.

Charlie Dowd out on the right had the first decent effort for the Rouslers on the 11th minute but blasted his shot wide. Meanwhile loanee from Colchester United, Eion McKeown was proving to be a handful for the away defence but tight marking and solid concentration by Kyle Lincoln nullified his threat.

Richard Gregory, returning from injury and playing up front for Sporting put a wild shot over the bar on the 17th minute but he made no mistake three minutes later when Jason Cowley passed on Dowd's cross to Gregory who made a side-footed volley into the back of Lewis Todd's net.

Welwyn looked as if they were going to get the equaliser on the 35th minute but Danny Carr's screamer went just wide of Jono Brown's right hand post.

They will probably regret missing that chance as just a minute later, Sporting increased their lead when home captain David Keenleyside slipped as he tried to intercept Nathan Hayward's pass to Kieren Westwood; who with plenty of space and time fired a low shot that Todd parried with his legs but only back to the lively winger who this time buried his shot into the middle of the goal.

Four minutes after the interval the windy conditions nearly gave Sporting another goal when Dowd's corner kick had to be cleared off the line by Jack Humphrey but with 59 minutes gone, Sporting pretty much put the match beyond Welwyn when substitute Jake Heath got his team's third with his first touch of the ball as he found the narrow gap though a packed penalty area after Cowley's free-kick had been insufficiently cleared.

Elliott Bailey had the best effort for The Citizens on the 75th minute but his low free-kick was well-saved by Brown. Shortly after the frustration of the afternoon got the better of home defender Jon Sexton, who already had a yellow card for dissent and he received another after clattering Dowd, too heavily according to referee Mr Harrison, so off he went.

Both teams had a few more attempts at adding to the score sheet but none were successful.

Manager Brendan Kelly said after that he was happy with both result and performance especially given the challenging conditions. Next stop a mere matter of a home clash against Corby Town on Saturday for a proverbial six-pointer.

Welwyn: Lewis Todd, Danny Carr, Jon Sexton, Dylan Ebengo (Brendan Ocran 62 mins), Jay Rolfe, Jack Humphrey, Charlie Pattison (Romelle Alomenu 62 mins), David Keenleyside (Capt.), Eion McKeown, Elliott Bailey, Matthew Campbell-Mhlope (Ivan Agyaakwah 71 mins).
Substitutes not used: Eusebio da Silva, Isaac Ebelebe.
Yellows: Jon Sexton (68, 79 mins - red)

Sporting: Jono Brown, Liam Spink, Jack Wilson, Nathan Hayward (Jake Heath 57 mins), Tom Taylor, Kyle Lincoln, Charlie Dowd, Josh Quaynor, Jason Cowley, Richard Gregory (Capt, Cameron Peters 71 mins), Kieren Westwood (John Pykett 71 mins).
Substitutes not used: Aaron Roberts, Dan O'Sullivan

Goals: Richard Gregory (20 mins), Kieran Westwood (36 mins), Jake Heath (59 mins).
Cards: None.

Referee: Mr D Harrison (Wickford)
Assistants: Mr R Clausson (Rayleigh), Mr E Eruero (London).

Sporting MoM: Josh Quaynor

Crowd: 328
Weather: Cool, windy.

Report: Phil Baker

The biggest crowd at the BP Mitchell Stadium in five years saw just why Bromsgrove Sporting are title and promotion contenders in the Southern League Div 1 Central division.

The Midlanders made light of some very difficult conditions in gale force winds and an increasingly heavy Herns Lane pitch, in front of a 328 crowd, to brush aside WGC’s spirited bid to block the Worcestershire side’s impressive progress back up the non-league ladder.

Bromsgrove did an efficient job on Dean Barker’s young side, giving a clinical lesson in finishing and the WGC manager knows his side will have easier days to come in their final eight games of this, at times, turbulent campaign.

Barker included young loanee Eoin McKeown, signed in midweek from Division 2 Colchester United and he was paired upfront with Elliot Bailey, while the power of Dylan Ebengo was drafted into midfield, on his return.

Another newcomer Jack Humphrey impressed with some fine work to play Bailey through in the opening minutes, but Bromsgrove central defender Tom Taylor got in a telling tackle in the box.

Humphrey was in action at the other end soon afterwards, cutting out a dangerous cross after Bromsgrove’s tricky winger Charlie Dowd had got around Jon Sexton.

New boy McKeown was given the chance to show his pace on the quarter-hour, from Dan Carr’s ball over the visitors defence, but just couldn’t keep the ball in play. Then on 20 minutes, Bromsgrove struck with a fine finish from the top scoring Richard Godfrey who hit a smart side volley high and wide of WGC keeper Lewis Todd’s dive into the top corner from 15 yards.

The Citizens responded well. Good approach work by Matty Campbell-Mhlope and Charlie Pattison set up a headed chance for McKeown, but his header was straight at visiting keeper Jono Brown. WGC’s most memorable first-half effort was a ferocious Ebengo effort just wide, struck as a rebound came out to the big defender.

But moments later Bromsgrove were 2-0 up. Carr slipped on the slick surface, going for an interception and let in winger Kieran Westwood. He struck an effort that Todd saved well with his legs, but the rebound fell obligingly for Westwood, who put away his second attempt. It was clearly a blow to WGC just before half-time, but they began the second-half with their best period of the game.

Two minutes after the restart, a good ball from Carr and clever flick from Campbell-Mhlope put McKeown in the clear, but he skied his effort horribly over and WGC’s best chance of a goal back was gone. Minutes later, McKeown did better as provider, setting up the chance for Campbell-Mhlope, but he hit keeper Brown with his shot, the Bromsgrove keeper completing a sharp save.

Almost as though to show WGC how it was done, Bromsgrove stretched away to net a slightly flattering third goal - somewhat against the run of play – when substitute Jake Heath made it 3-0 with his first touch, sweeping a low shot through a crowded area past Todd, after the home defence had only half cleared a free-kick.

Manager Barker introduced Ivan Agyaakwah and Romelle Alomenu in a double change, Ebengo and Pattison making way. WGC felt they had claims for a penalty when McKeown was brought down on the edge of the area. Certainly, full-back Jon Sexton felt so and was booked for dissent by referee Harrison. It proved a costly exchange of views as seven minutes later, Sexton blocked off Dowd in a challenge and Mr Harrison adjudged a second yellow was necessary, sending the WGC defender off and leaving the Citizens to play the last 10 minutes with 10 men.

During that time, keeper Todd pulled off two fine saves to keep out a swerving effort from Bromsgrove midfielder Josh Quaynor and then an even better save from a deflected effort from the Midlanders’ lively substitute John Pykett. At the other end, Bailey was put through on the Bromsgrove goal, but couldn’t get any power into his final effort and Brown saved easily, snuffing out any chance of a WGC reward on the afternoon.

WGC: Todd, Carr, Rolfe, Humphrey, Sexton, Campbell-Mhlope (Orcan 71), Pattison (Agyaakwah 68), Ebengo (Alomenu 68), Keenleyside, McKeown, Bailey.