Bromsgrove Sporting's fine record on the road this season continued on Tuesday evening, as they ran out 3-1 winners over Barwell.
A first half Greg Mills free kick was followed by a tap in by Shaquille McDonald. Brady Hickey pulled one back for Barwell with a lobbed effort but a Mikey Taylor goal from a yard out doubled the Rouslers' lead and ensured Bren Kelly's men would be leaving Leicestershire with all three points.
Sporting started the game sharply, with Mills and McDonald both having early efforts. It would be the former who would open the scoring, 15 minutes in, via a free kick out wide on the left wing.
He whipped the ball in with power, causing it to scoot across the box, missing everyone in its path before smashing the bottom corner.
Jamie Towers and Kai Williams had opportunities for the home side, with the latter hitting a shot straight at Tony Breeden; soon after, it should have been two for Bromsgrove, as a Joe Hull header drew a great save from Max Bramley, with Mikey Taylor blazing the rebound over from no further than a couple of yards.
Barwell had a huge chance to level proceedings a minute into the second half, as Williams powere up the wing and had an effort saved by Breeden, before Hickey looped a rebounded shot over the crossbar.
The second came 53 minutes in, with Mills heavily involved again. The recent addition from Stourbridge cut inside and drew a fine low save from Bramley, with McDonald pouncing with speed to tap in afterwards.
Barwell pulled one back 10 minutes later, as Hickey found himself in space and latched onto a long ball, allowing him to lob the ball nicely over Breeden on the perimeter of the box.
Sporting were soon on the attack again though, and appeared to make it 3-1 in the 67th minute, when McDonald had a shot saved onto the post that Bramley subsequently scooped away in dramatic fashion; there was a case for the ball crossing the line, but the referee and linesman both said no goal.
It would be three for Sporting two minutes later though, as Hull showed more of his prowess in the air with a looping header that was saved onto the post, before Mikey Taylor bundled in the rebound from virtually underneath the upright.
The lively Hickey had a free kick from the edge of the area fingertipped over by Breeden in the 72nd minute, but this was to be the final chance of the game, as the Rouslers recorded another solid away success
From the Barwell Website:
Barwell 1 Bromsgrove Sporting 3
By Simon Mathieson
Bromsgrove take the points at Kirkby Road
A strong away performance from Bromsgrove Sporting gave the visitors all three points on a chilly evening in Leicestershire. Barwell were not without chances to make the score closer but in the end only Brady Hickey's neat lob over Tony Breeden went in. Barwell started with only one change in the starting XI with Jamie Towers coming in to replace Tristan Dunkley.
There was a very early chance for Barwell when, on 2 minutes, Jamie Towers controlled the ball well on the edge of the area and looked to play a ball into the box. He was, however, in an offside position. Within a few seconds of this, Bromsgrove were up at the other end and forced a save from the legs of Max Bramley.
Josh Quaynor went close on 6 minutes when his shot went across the front of the Barwell goal from right to left. It did not go in and there was no other Sporting player around to knock it in the net. The Bromsgrove trio of Greg Mills, Shaquille McDonald and Mike Taylor were causing a threat up front as they did for the whole game.
Eventual man of the match, Eliot Putman, made a good cross as the game went into the 10th minute but it was cleared back to him. He was fouled and from the free kick the ball came to Tonali Omotola but he shot wide from close range.
Bromsgrove took the lead in the 15th minute when Greg Mills struck a free kick from the left hand side of the pitch, next to the area. The free kick was given away by Jake Whitmore and was drilled in, went across the 6 yard area and into the far corner. It somehow avoided all defenders and attackers, much to the delight of the travelling Bromsgrove faithful.
4 minutes later, Jamie Towers headed the ball very narrowly wide when he rose to meet a Brady Hickey cross. Towers was at the far post but could not get enough contact on the ball to direct enough to get it in. Not long after this, Kai Williams had a shot which was saved by Tony Breeden and Barwell were looking strong despite going behind.
Mike Taylor had a chance to grab a second for Sporting on 21 minutes and then a goalmouth scramble only 2 minutes later gave the visitors another chance. This opened a spell of play, lasting around 10 minutes, that saw Bromsgrove well on top and forcing chances on a regular basis.
On 33 minutes, with Brady Hickey having worked the ball well on the right hand side, Omotola surged in to the box with the ball. He was bearing down on Breeden with defenders all around and looked to be tripped from behind. The referee saw it differently and gave a free kick the other way, denying Barwell what looked like a penalty.
Half Time: Barwell 0 Bromsgrove Sporting 1
Barwell got the ball from Bromsgrove soon after the kick off and almost caught the visitors napping. Kai Williams ran down the left wing with the ball and forced his way in to the area. He shot and it was saved by Tony Breeden, both goalkeepers were on top form in this game, who could only palm it out to Brady Hickey on the edge of the 6 yard box. Hickey, with everyone expecting a goal, only managed to shoot over the bar. Shortly after this McDonald had a shot for Bromsgrove that was deflected for a corner.
The 2nd Bromsgrove goal came on 53 minutes. Greg Mills was played the ball after good work from Nathan Hayward and he had a run and a shot. The shot was well saved, down low, by Max Bramley but Shaquille McDonald pounced on the rebound and the goalkeeper had no chance to make another save.
Joseph Evans and Tristan Dunkley were brought on to try and change things around for Barwell and had a positive effect on the game. On 63 minutes, Brady Hickey scored a lovely goal when he lobbed the stranded Breeden to make it 1-2. Evans had been involved in the build up with some good skill and a fine pass. A comeback looked on as Barwell were playing well with their tails up.
However, just a couple of minutes later Bromsgrove thought they had scored. A shot was hit hard and low and it hit the inside of the left hand post and bounced back across the line. The large Sporting contingent celebrated the goal but neither official gave it and Bramley cleared it. The 3rd goal did come a further 2 minutes later, on 69 minutes, when Mike Taylor bundled in a rebound after Hull had forced Bramley in to a save.
The game picked up in pace and intensity and with substitutions, goals, fouls and contentious decisions it threatened to get away from the referee. Part of this lively few minutes was a foul by Breeden who rushed out and clattered in to Brady Hickey on the edge of the area. Hickey took the subsequent free kick but it was tipped over the bar.
On 79 minutes there was a fantastic save by Bramley who reached high and stretched wide to keep out a Quaynor shot that was destined for the top right hand corner. The new Barwell keeper is certainly impressing in his first 4 games.
The game came to an end to great jubilation from the Sporting fans and players as they got back to winning ways. For Barwell it was a defeat after three wins. The two sides will meet again, at The Victoria Ground, on Saturday in the FA Trophy.
Full Time: Barwell 1 Bromsgrove Sporting 3
Attendance: 235
Man of the Match: Eliot Putman
