Bromsgrove Sporting vs. Cadbury Athletic
A lacklustre second half display from Bromsgrove Sporting resulted in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of a well-organised Cadbury Athletic outfit.
The visitors won their sixth league game in a row courtesy of goals from Ben Mooney and Declan Kirby. Danny Morris' well-taken opener for the home team ultimately counted for very little.
Sporting were marginally the better side in the first half an hour, with chances including Sean Brain's shot wide from a well placed long ball from Joe Adams and Chris Duggan's fierce shot from just inside the box, which just flew over the bar.
It was on the thirty-minute mark where Bromsgrove gained the advantage. An enticing ball from defence by captain Simon Fitter was met by Morris, who controlled the ball well and slotted home comfortably from close range.
It wasn't all plane sailing for Sporting in the first half, however. Five minutes before the interval, a Cadbury counter attack led to Stuart Butcher getting a shot away. A smart save by Jake Bedford helped maintain the home side's one goal advantage.
The lead did not last a great deal longer though. Three minutes into the second half, a Ben Judd free kick was met with a bullet header from Mooney, leaving Bedford with no chance as the ball nestled in the bottom corner.
Sporting failed to show as much attacking intent as they did in the first forty-five; their best second half chances being a Matt Gardner header aimed straight at keeper Kenny Sanders and a Sam Wills free kick that whistled over the upright.
On the 65th minute, they were made to pay for a lack of creativity. Bedford saved a header from a corner but the home side failed to clear the ball quickly enough, leaving Declan Kirby the easiest of chances to score from point blank range.
Sporting's usually reliable defence looked flaky at times, even in the dying minutes of the game. Cadbury substitute Dean Lea caught the defence unawares and would have made it three, were it not for Bedford winning the one-on-one battle.
Despite the disappointing performance and result, Sporting were gifted an unlikely lifeline, as league leaders Highgate United lost 4-3 away at Stafford Town. This means that Sporting are by no means out of the title race, with the game against Highgate on March 7th being potentially crucial, providing results beforehand also go their way.
