Bromsgrove Sporting extended their unbeaten league record to eleven matches in style, thrashing Southam United 10-0 thanks to five goals from Mark Bellingham and three from Billy Russell.
Sporting came into this match winning their previous six league games and continued this strong form early into the first half. It took The Rouslers five minutes to open their scoring account after an unmarked Mark Bellingham headed past Michael Ojeil from a corner.
The home side was relentless in their attacking pressure and followed the goal with a string of chances that should have doubled the score line. Sean Williams' header was blocked on the line and Bellingham was denied a hat-trick of chances, the best of which when his free kick struck the outside of the post.
Southam United eventually crumbled under the pressure and the home side got their well-deserved second of the match thanks to a superb solo goal from Billy Russell, whose skill and strength enabled him to cut inside onto his right foot and rifle the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Mark Bellingham doubled his match tally in the 33rd minute after controlling Williams' cross and then slid the ball underneath Ojeil's arm to give the home side a 3-0 lead.
One minute later the game already looked won after Southam's Matt Wyatt's poor reactions allowed Billy Russell to win possession of the ball and then bettering his first finish, curling the ball into the far right corner of the net from just outside the box on the far side.
Another calamity by Southam saw Bromsgrove head into half time 5-0 up. Sean Williams capitalised on a bad decision by Ojeil outside his area and taking possession off the goalkeeper and tapping the ball into an empty net.
Sporting began the second half as they finished the first with it taking them only 30 seconds after the re-start to score their sixth thanks to Craig Jones tapping the ball into the net from a poorly defended corner.
Sporting's defence was resilient all day and they managed to prolong Southam's first shot until the 49th minute but Nial Thomas' effort caused little trouble as Bromsgrove's Jake Bedford spread his body well to save the shot.
Matt Poyer came close to getting the home sides seventh but his shot bounced inches wide of the far post.
Craig Jones bettered that attempt just shy of the hour mark with his audacious scissor kick bringing a good save out of Ojeil.
One minute later and Bellingham completed his hat-trick after the ball stuck the striker's knee from a cross and bounced into Ojeil's bottom left hand corner, stretching the lead to 7-0.
Bellingham was again involved in the next Sporting move on the hour mark and laid the ball off to Sam Wilkinson whose powerful shot was tipped away for a corner.
The danger still persisted from the corner for Southam and Bellingham, with his back towards goal, twisted from a few yards out after Craig Jones headed the ball to his feet and he then tapped the ball into the goalkeeper's bottom right corner, marking Bellingham's fourth and Sporting's eighth.
Russell completed his hat-trick during the final 20 minutes after bringing the ball again onto his right foot on the edge of the box and stuck the ball under Ojeil's hand and just inside the near post making the score 9-0.
With a quarter of an hour to play the scoring was completed when Bellingham bagged his fifth of the match with some impressive link-up play with Wilkinson. Wilkinson flicked the ball over the last defenders head inside the box which fell kindly to Bellingham who confidently volleyed the ball into the left side of the goal, bringing the score line into double digits.
The final ten minutes resulted in much of the same with key chances created from the home side. Williams' shot deflected wide, Bellingham's header crept wide of the far post and both Russell and Brett Mander's attempts was denied by Ojeil.
The score line finished 10-0 to Bromsgrove Sporting who close the gap on leaders Brocton to six points after their 1-1 draw with Nuneaton Griff on the weekend, but with Brocton holding two precious games in hand over Sporting it looks a tall order for them to clinch that promotion place.
Attendance 291
Referee: Trevor Sharratt
Bromsgrove Sporting: Jake Bedford, Brett Mander, Jack Wilson, Matt Poyner, Joe Cole (C), Craig Jones, Sean Williams, Sam Wilkinson, Mark Bellingham, Billy Russell, Daniel Ludlow SUB: Darious Darkin, Chris Duggan, James Johnson, Daniel Morris
Southam United: Michael Ojeil, Jake Marshall, Ben Tennant, Matt Wyatt, Joe Williams, Danny Wylde, Connor Wilson, Ryan Isherwood, Steve Thomas, Oliver Manoochehri, Nial Thoms SUB: Sam Cantalapieda, Suki Nijjar, Louis Bednall, Hugh McLuskie
Prolific marksman Mark Bellingham hit five goals as Bromsgrove Sporting inflicted a heavy defeat on a willing, but inexperienced young Saints side
With half the squad still young enough to play for the youth team, a trip to the Victoria Ground to face free-scoring Sporting was always going make for a tough afternoon.
Add in the threat of Mark Bellingham, who has scored over 600 goals in a career which includes playing at Leamington in the Southern League during my time as chairman, it was likely to be a question of how low the Saints defence could keep the score and so it proved.
Michael Ojeil has waited patiently for a chance this season and, with Tom Cross unavailable, the 17 year-old got the call in goal. Looking at the score, it might appear that he had a bad afternoon but, with two exceptions, he couldn't be faulted for the goals and, indeed, pulled off some good saves to prevent even further punishment.
Striker Robbie Stephens was absent through injury and central defender Simon Hicks was suspended. How Saints missed Hicks' experience, as Bellingham ran riot, scoring his first after just five minutes, rising unchallenged to head home an inswinging corner from Daniel Ludlow.
Sean Williams, who was a constant threat down the right flank, almost made it two in the 9th minute, but Ryan Isherwood cleared off the line and then Ludlow sent a shot across the Saints goal.
Saints got their first and only corner of the half in the 18th when a cross from Connor Wilson was headed out by Craig Jones, but Jake Marshall sent the ball high and deep and away from everyone.
Manoocheri then brought down Williams and Bellingham's free kick came back off the outside of the post before Ojeil made a smart save as Brett Mander sent a hard, low cross into the goalmouth where Chris Russell pounced, but the keeper got his body in the way.
However, it was only a stay of execution as Russell proved too strong for Marshall and shot low into the far corner to double the lead on 27 minutes. Mander sent a good chance over the bar before Ojeil saved a point-blank range from Russell.
Bellingham struck again, meeting a cross from Sean Williams and shaking off the challenge of Joe Williams to score easily. Russell got his second when driving through unchallenged in the 34th and, right on half time, a harmless looking ball over the top wasn't collected by Ojeil and Williams tapped in for the softest of goals.
Sam Cantalapiedra made his first appearance replacing the injured Danny Wylde at half-time, leaving Saints with even less defenders.
Within a minute, it was 6-0 as Ojeil didn't get a clean punch on a corner and, with the defence failing to clear, Jones shot through a crowded goalmouth.
Saints almost pulled one back in the 48th minute, but home keeper Jake Bedford, saved with his legs from Manoochehri and the ball fell to Wilson who put his shot over.
Ludlow provided a perfect cross to an unmarked Bellingham at the far post and he made no mistake for his hat-trick. Bellingham soon increased the lead as the Saints defence got in a tangle and Russell again proved too strong in scoring his third.
It was all over with fifteen minutes to go as Bellingham brought up double figures with his fifth of the match.
For this young squad, the step up from the youth team and the Stratford Football Alliance where they have been chalking up big wins themselves, is proving a shock to the system. Two heavy defeats have shown them that they are playing stronger, fitter opponents who won't give them time on the ball and will unmercifully punish mistakes.
But, they kept trying and didn't resort to desperate measures in a match that was played in a good spirit by both sides.
A few more experienced players will make a lot of difference.
Just three, Oli Manoochehri, Ben Tennant and Danny Wylde have chalked up ten first team appearances this season. Ojeil was making his debut, as was substitute Cantalapiedra, and Bednall, Marshall, Nijjar, Thoms and Wilson had all appeared for the first time last week.
It is to be hoped that their confidence is not shaken and the small group I spoke to after the match seemed in good spirits, considering what had just happened.
My Player of the Match was Matty Wyatt, who suffered as much as any with the constant barrage of attacks from Sporting, but critical clearances in the last five minutes showed a determination to play to the end even in the most adverse of circumstances.
Bromsgrove Sporting: Jake Bedford, Brett Mander, Jack Wilson, Matt Poyner, Joe Cole [Capt.], Craig Jones, Sean Williams, Sam Wilkinson, Mark Bellingham, Chris Russell, Daniel Ludlow (Darius Darkin 63)
Subs not used: Chris Duggan, James Johnson, Danny Morris
Southam United: Michel Ojeil, Jake Marshall, Ben Tennant, Matty Wyatt, Joe Williams, Danny Wylde (Sam Cantalapiedra 46), Connor Wilson (Suki Nijjar 63), Ryan Isherwood, Steve Thomas, Oli Manoochehri [Capt.}], Niall Thoms (Louis Bednall 63)
Sub not used; Hugh McCluskie (G/K)
Match officials: Referee Trevor Sharratt, Assistants John Watson and Brian Green
Attn: 291
Player of the Match: Matty Wyatt
