A first half Mikey Taylor goal and a solid defensive display helped to continue Bromsgrove Sporting’s fine away form this season, as the Rouslers beat Banbury United 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
The game’s only goal came in the 39th minute, as Richard Gregory put the ball on a plate for Taylor, who battled past his defender before coolly slotting into the bottom corner.
Banbury started the game sharply, but lacked a killer instinct in front of goal – John Mills and Greg Kaziboni both had early chances which went wide of the mark.
Sporting gradually grew into the half after the weathering the early storm, with Greg Mills and Gregory having shots from distance fly wide, in a game where the ferocious wind was a massive factor.
Gift Mussa had a shot inside the box blocked, with Harry Higginson heading over soon after, while the 35th minute saw Craig Fasanmade have the best opportunity of the game to that point but was unable to put his one on one effort from 10 yards out beyond Sporting stopper Daniel Platt.
Sporting’s goal would come four minutes later; Gregory did well to come out of a midfield tussle on top, which he followed by taking a few touches before playing in Taylor, who nonchalantly caressed the ball past Banbury keeper Jack Harding.
Sporting’s prolific frontman could have had a second with two minutes of the half remaining, as he had a couple of efforts blocked in quick succession, with the first of which being booted clear off the line by Charlie Hawtin, after the ball had gotten past the keeper.
The early moments of the second half were dominated by free kicks. Gregory and Leon Broadhurst had ones from narrowly outside the penalty area blocked by the Banbury wall, while Giorgio Rasulo had a dead ball effort from distance well saved by Platt.
Midway through the half, the home side enjoyed a flurry of quick chances, as Kaziboni had two shots blocked, before substitute Ravi Shamsi also saw a shot kept out by a Sporting defender and Fasanmade had a drive palmed out for a corner by Platt.
Will Shorrock and substitute Shaquille McDonald both had shots saved by Harding inside the final 10 minutes, while additional time saw chances for both teams – Banbury’s Ricky Johnson headed the ball straight at Platt and Mikey Taylor had a shot kept out by an oncoming Harding.