BROMSGROVE SPORTING 2 BEWDLEY TOWN 0
FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND
Sporting won their first ever FA Cup tie and only twelve rounds now stand between them and the Twin Towers er sorry the Arch. Two late goals from substitute Joe Jakub gave them a win that in hindsight was comfortable enough but harder work than it should have been against hard working but limited opponents.
Bewdley, playing in a hideous strip of blue yellow and red kicked off playing towards the top end but it was Sporting who were soon into their stride with Will Tibbetts having the first chance, cutting in from the right and shooting just wide. As Bewdley settled, however, the game became a midfield stalemate with few chances at either end. In fact the only save of the first half was a routine stop by Bedford from a fifteen yard snapshot.
The second half , we hoped, would be better and it was. Sporting attacked from the start, with more width than they had had in the first period and they began to get behind Bewdley's defence although a poor final ball meant that few real chances resulted from some good approach play. Mackenzie had a shot well saved while Rico Taylor worked a good position but hesitated allowing the goalkeeper to get a block. An attacking substitution was made, Jakub coming on for Brookes while Elliott Nash came on for Tibbetts.
The game seemed to be drifting towards a draw until, on 85 minutes, a right wing centre was headed back across goal to Jakub who prodded home from close range. Bewdley could have levelled from the restart as right back Hobson made a surging run into the penalty area to hit a low cross that just eluded a team mate arriving at the far post. Sporting immediately made it two, Jakub heading in another right wing centre. The visitors continued to battle and Bedford had to make a good save to keep out a shot from Godfrey.
Not a great performance overall but a win is a win and Sporting head to Coleshill in two weeks time for what will be a tougher test. Clearly the Rouslers are not going to go a long way in the tournament but each round brings valuable prize money and besides, it's always nice to win in the Cup isn't it?
