Bromsgrove Sporting 1 (0) Basford United 1 (1)
Bromsgrove Sporting were back in league action against Basford United from Nottingham last Saturday. Thomas Baillie's side were coming into the game off the back of an FA Cup loss last week to Hereford so all eyes were on the side today particularly as their opponents advanced in the competition against Rugby Town writes Shaunna-Grace Murphy.
Baillie had opted for Dan Sweeney playing up front as a lone striker for the first month of the season but has recently changed the team to a 4-4-2 formation to accommodate both him and Mikey Taylor up front.
It was Basford though who started stronger with Ollie Taylor in the Sporting goal having to make some good saves throughout the opening 20 minutes but it was no surprise when the away side finally took the lead four minutes before the break.
Some intricate football deep inside their own half eventually saw Declan Dunn chip over the defence, playing Anthony Dwyer through one-on-one with Ollie Taylor before the striker made no mistake in poking beyond the 'keeper for the go-ahead goal.
An early change in the second-half for Sporting saw Callum King-Harmes enter the pitch and The Rouslers press a lot more supplying a number of crosses but not quite making it to the feet of the Sporting players.
Club captain Tom Taylor came on as a substitute late on late in the second half and controlled the back with Mike McGrath just as well as he did in the first match of the season.
Sporting eventually scored a deserved equaliser through Mikey Taylor just twelve minutes from time when a through ball played the striker on goal and he fired beyond Basford 'keeper Kieran Preston, clipping the inside of the post before trickling home.
Taylor almost scored a winner for his side but, after a ball was drilled into the area, could only fire his effort straight at Preston and the spoils were eventually shared.
Sporting now travel to Hednesford Town for a league match on Tuesday evening followed by another away trip to Kings Langley in Hertfordshire next Saturday. The week after sees a break from the league campaign when The Rouslers entertain Chasetown for the first time in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy.
Sporting line-up: Ollie Taylor, Lewis Wright (George Forsyth 78 mins), Dom Perkins (Tom Taylor 78 mins), Joe Curtis, Kieran Dawes, Mike McGrath (Capt), Miro Pais (Callum King-Harmes 61 mins), Harvey Gregson, Mikey Taylor, Dan Sullivan, Ryan Edmunds. Unused substitutes: Jack Byrne, Matt Barnes-Homer.
Crowd: 678
Sporting Player of the Match: Mike McGrath
From Basford Website:
REPORT: BROMSGROVE SPORTING 1-1 UNITED
United held in frustrating draw...
BY CALLUM ALTIMAS
United drew 1-1 with Bromsgrove Sporting in an entertaining but frustrating affair at the Victoria Ground on Saturday afternoon.
The Ambers took the lead through Anthony Dwyer 7th of the season and dominated throughout, but the home side equalised through Michael Taylor twelve minutes from time.
In an entertaining opening half, both sides had plenty of chances on goal.
The home side had the majority of the earlier opportunities with a couple of well-placed crosses into the area, but both Taylor and Daniel Sweeney headed wide of the target.
Sweeney then tried his luck from distance after the ball fell to his feet just outside of the Basford area, but his effort sailed well over the goal.
From there, United came into their own and really took charge. Notts County loanee, Luther Munakandafa won the ball back from the Bromsgrove defence on the edge of the area, but he dragged his shot wide.
The Ambers demonstrated some beautiful attacking football and an impressive counter-attack almost saw them take the lead when Declan Dunn played Dwyer through on goal, but his shot sailed narrowly wide.
Munakandafa caused numerous problems for the home side - notably left back Dom Perkins - and probably should have won his side a penalty when he was clumsily brought down in the home area, but the referee waved away all protests.
Shortly after, he was again terrorising the defence, dribbling past several defenders, before his shot flew over the top of the bar.
And it was no surprise when Mark Clifford’s men finally took a deserved lead four minutes before the break.
Some beautiful attacking football deep inside the half eventually saw Dunn play a gorgeous chip over the defence, playing Dwyer through one-on-one with Oliver Taylor before the striker made no mistake in poking beyond the 'keeper for the go-ahead goal.
Bromsgrove came out the much better side after the interval, carving out a number of their own chances.
First Taylor had a glorious chance shortly after the restart; hitting a fierce half-volley from inside the Basford area, but Kieran Preston kept it out with a wonderful save.
Daniel Sweeney then drilled an inviting ball into the area, but Dom Roma put in a superb last-ditch challenge to deflect it wide for a corner.
At the other end, Munakandafa almost got onto the scoresheet after a brief goalmouth scramble saw the ball fall to his feet just outside the six-yard box, but his effort was deflected over.
Dwyer then almost doubled his tally when Gregg Smith flicked a header into his path, but after showing superb skill, the resulting strike ricocheted off the post and away to safety.
The home side eventually got their equaliser they had been pushing so hard just twelve minutes from time when a through ball played Taylor through on goal and he fired beyond Preston, hitting the inside of the post before trickling home.
Taylor almost scored a winner for his side but, after a ball was drilled into the area, could only fire his effort straight at Preston and the spoils were eventually shared.
Next up, United host home tie against Stourbridge in the Southern League Premier (Central).
UNITED: Preston; Betts, Barnes, Chapman, Roma, Irvine; Munakandafa (Palmer 78'), Thornhill (c), Dunn; Smith, Dwyer (Bertram 85')
SUBS (not used): Hines, Clark, Musson (GK)
ATT: 678
