The Pitching-In Southern League Premier Division Central
Tuesday 14th February 2023, 7:45 p.m. kick-off
Alvechurch 0 (0) Bromsgrove Sporting 0 (0) at Lye Meadow
It was a cold evening last Tuesday with a touch of mist hanging over Lye Meadow as Alvechurch and Sporting faced each other not just for local bragging rights but the pair needing points to improve their league position.
Despite being St Valentine's Day, there was no love lost between the two teams in the early stages as both attempted to make an early gain and tackles were made to count. However neither side really created much in the way of chances and the game settled down into a normal pace after a few minutes of exertion.
'Church probably had the slightly better of the play during the half with former Rousler Jack Hallahan forcing a save with his feet by Ollie Taylor and Jediael Abbey also testing Taylor moments later.
At the other end Ammar Dyer was keeping the home defence alert with runs down the right wing but Jack Tolley and Brandon Smalley playing up front for Sporting failed to connect with any of his crosses. Meanwhile Kartell Dawkins carried on from where he left off last Saturday in his defensive midfield role, breaking up opposition moves before they could do any damage and spraying around useful passes to get attacks moving for his team.
However with both back-fours in fine form, opportunities were few and far between and so the score remained goalless at the interval.
The second half carried on pretty much in the same vein with neither side able to penetrate the walls thrown up though Alvechurch did force a succession of corners that Sporting defended with few problems. One well-worked move on the 57th minute saw home substitute Jack Concannon set up Abbey who should have had an easy tap-in only for Ollie Taylor to make an excellent reflex save against his former club.
Moving on to the 73rd minute and 'Church had their best chance of the match when Tom Edge's well-struck half‑volley was headed off the line by Rouslers' captain, Tom Taylor.
As with the first half both backlines remained rock-solid and although referee Mr Williams played six minutes of added time, neither defence was breached and so the scoreline remained 0-0 at the end.
'Church line-up: Dan Jezeph, Josh Dugmore, Ben Cassidy, Abel Alabi (Jack Concannon 55 mins), Harry Williams, Ash Carter (Capt), Jediael Abbey, Tom Edge, Leo Brown (Emmanuel, Olaoko 79 mins), Temi Walker, Jack Hallahan (Ben Beresford 53 mins). Unused substitutes: Ben Burton, Aurio Neto Teixeira.
Sporting line-up: Ollie Taylor, Jack Newell, Kartell Dawkins, Joe Curtis, Tom Taylor (Capt), Mike McGrath, Ammar Dyer, Mo Njie, Jack Tolley, Brandon Smalley, Ayo Lekuti (Nathan Kebeya 90+1 mins). Unused substitutes: Lewis Wright, Callum King-Harmes, Miro Pais, Dewain Sewell.
Referee: Mr R Williams
Crowd: 362
Sporting Man of the Match: Ammar Dyer
