The Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, Saturday 2nd September 2023, 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Ashby Ivanhoe 0 (0) Bromsgrove Sporting 1 (1) at The NFU Sports Ground
Bromsgrove Sporting travelled up to North-West Leicestershire last Saturday to start their FA Cup campaign against Ashby Ivanhoe. It was a beautiful sunny day and the football was entertaining with Sporting gaining a deserved win though it was not without controversy.
Playing in their green & white away kit, The Rouslers shaded their opponents in the first fifteen minutes, with several forays into their penalty area. Conor Tee had a couple of efforts go wide but the best chance fell to player/manager Mike McGrath whose 30-yard shot went narrowly over the bar.
Ashby themselves were steadily playing better and getting some useful balls forward but little to trouble Ollie Taylor between in goal for Bromsgrove.
Playing wider than usual, Miro Pais was making a nuisance of himself down the left wing and on the 29th minute he was pulled back as he tried to make progress into the penalty area. Referee Mr Porter had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Conor Tee sent the Ashby keeper the wrong way and gave Sporting the lead.
Three minutes later, the home side had their best chance of the half when keeper Sam Taylor sent a long ball up field that was neatly collected by Tolani Omottola but just as he was lining up his shot, Akram White took the ball off his feet to prevent what could have been the equaliser.
The second half continued in the same vein with Sporting marginally on top though Ashby still had the odd chance.
However Sporting finally and deservedly doubled their lead with 64 minutes on the clock when Ben O'Hanlon playing left wing-back sent a superb diagonal cross to the far post that was met by Prince Henry who gratefully headed home.
Four minutes later though and an opportunity for Ashby to get one back and an interesting situation that had everybody reaching for their book on the Laws of Association Football.
Luke Rowe attempted to make a back-pass to Ollie Taylor but instead of a steady ball along the ground to Sporting's keeper, the ball ballooned up in the air and was going over Taylor's head for a certain goal. Taylor tipped it over for an indirect free-kick about 6 yards from the goal line, so no argument there but then Mr Porter brandished a red card to Taylor on the basis that he had committed a foul to prevent a goal, so off he went for an early shower. A lot of scratching of heads by both sets of fans who wondered if that was a correct decision.
Normally one of the two centre-backs, Mike McGrath or Aaron Roberts would go in goal (as no substitute keeper was available) but the decision was made to keep them in defence and Henry went between the sticks, the first he had played in that position in a competitive match.
The eventual free-kick was deflected over the bar and although playing against 10 men, Ashby were visibly tired on a hot day. They had a couple of decent chances but those were adequately dealt with by the Sporting defence and Henry only had a couple of pick-ups thus earning himself a clean sheet as well as scoring a goal for something of a memorial afternoon for him.
In the next round, Sporting will be away again on Saturday 16th September against fellow Premier Central outfit Barwell. Also the Club are appealing to the FA over Taylor's red card in the hope that he will avoid a suspension. The outcome is awaited.
Sporting line-up: Ollie Taylor, Aksum White, Ben O'Hanlon, Jack Newell (Kieron Berry, 80 mins), Aaron Roberts, Mike McGrath, Miro Pais (Callum King-Harmes 64 mins), Keanu Cooper, Prince Henry, Conor Tee, Luke Rowe (Capt). Unused substitutes: Goodluck Eke, Kane Auld. David Solademi, Gustavo Sanches, Ade Francis
Referee: Mr J Porter
Sporting Player of the Match: Ben O'Hanlon
Attendance: 391
Report by Phil Baker
