Bromsgrove Sporting maintain their unbeaten run after a comfortable win against Atherstone Town with all four goals coming in the first half writes Phil Baker.
The Rouslers dominated play from the outset without needing the usual tactic of frantic pace for the first few minutes. Tom McNulty in goal for The Adders misjudged a back pass as early as the 2nd minute but Chris Lloyd fired wide after making the interception. Robbie Bunn and Ahmed Ali controlled play from the mid-field and both had shots that went close in the opening exchanges.
Sporting’s efforts came to fruition on the 18th minute after Chris Lloyd floated over a pin-point accurate corner into the goal area where Craig Jones was on hand to nod in to give his side the lead.
Atherstone immediately attempted to fight back and could have had a penalty after their leading scorer Alex Naughton went down in the box but referee Mr Chalkley ignored his appeals.
Sporting’s second came on the 27th minute when Reece Hewitt coming in from the left was up-ended. Lloyd again was the supplier with a precision free-kick into the box that Jason Cowley headed into the top of McNulty’s net from a few yards out.
Four minutes later Hewitt again was fouled but this time just inside the penalty area. Cowley took the spot-kick driving low into the bottom left-hand corner giving the diving McNulty no chance.
A few minutes later Hewitt had a chance that went over the bar when a goal looked to be a certainty and shortly after the home side breathed a sigh of relief after two rapidly made shots were cleared off the line.
On the 29th minute the impressive Lloyd deservedly got himself on the scoresheet when he received a delightful through ball just over the halfway line splitting the Adders’ back line. The nippy forward ran the remaining length of the pitch before slotting his shot under McNulty in a one-to-one for Sporting’s fourth.
Aaron O’Neil and Sam Belcher had a couple of half-chances for Atherstone just before the interval but Neil Leech between the sticks for Sporting was not really troubled.
The second half in contrast was quite a placid affair with neither team making much of a commitment to changing the scoreline. Sporting appeared to be happy to sit on their lead whilst The Adders did not to want to over commit and leave themselves vulnerable at the back.
O’Neil put a shot over the bar on the 55th minute then defended well against Sporting substitute Andy Nicol 10 minutes later to keep the scoreline the same.
Atherstone rallied though towards the end of the match having their best spell in the last 10 minutes with substitute Danny Harris and Naughton both forcing Leech into good saves.
However there was no change to the state of affairs since half-time and so Sporting went home with another three points.
Atherstone: Tom McNulty, Ashley Albrighton, Aaron O’Neil, Kurtis Mewies (Ashley Wilks 73 mins), Scott Goodby, Ben Steane (Josh Willis 52 mins), Ben Ashby, Kyle Baxter, Alex Naughton, Sam Belcher (Danny Harris 52 mins), Aden Moore.
Substitutes not used: Bradley Booker, Nic Gilks.
Yellow: Kyle Baxter (83 mins)
Sporting: Neil Leech, Aaron Roberts, Jack Wilson, Ahmed Ali, Craig Jones (Capt), Danny Morris, Liam Spink, Robbie Bunn, Jason Cowley (Tom Craine 59 mins), Chris Lloyd (Andy Nicol 74 mins), Reece Hewitt (John Pykett 59 mins).
Substitutes not used: Luke Shorthouse, Chrisi Conway.
Goals: Craig Jones (18 mins), Jason Cowley (27, 31 [pen] mins), Chris Lloyd (39 mins).
Yellows: Jason Cowley (13 mins), Craig Jones (82 mins), Aaron Roberts (83 mins),
Referee: Mr S Chalkley (Chelmsley Wood)
Assistants: Mr A Cox (Coventry), Mr C Ward (Coventry)
Crowd: 404
Weather: Warm, sunny
Sporting Man of the Match: Robbie Bunn
