Bromsgrove Sporting’s unbeaten run in the Midland Football League Division One continued on Saturday afternoon, as they narrowly beat Chelmsley Town 3-2 at the Victoria Ground.
The Rouslers started the game very brightly, with Jason Cowley and Luke Shorthouse both netting inside the first quarter of an hour to put the home side firmly in the driving seat.
A Jem Mills penalty for Chelmsley shortly before half time dragged the visitors back into the game before the lively Joe Haines doubled Sporting’s lead once again with a powerful drive 68 minutes in.
Danny Charlton bagged Chelmsley’’s second with six minutes left to play but despite some nervous moments towards that followed, Paul Smith’s men sealed the three points and extended their unbeaten league run to 16 games.
Sporting raced out the blocks and the opening stages certainly suggested that Chelmsley were in for a difficult afternoon.
Cowley’s 11th minute opener was preceded by fierce low shots from Robbie Bunn and Sam Wills, both being saved by James Kelly in between the sticks.
Unfortunately for him, Wills’ shot fell to the feet of Shorthouse, who guided the ball towards Cowley, who simply had to slam the ball home from no more than six yards.
Shorthouse’s would only have to wait three minutes for a goal of his own, as he met a pinpoint Chris Lloyd corner with an accurate header, scoring his first goal in a Sporting shirt.
Cowley could have added to his tally soon after, with an audacious thirty yard effort being saved by Kelly before skimming a shot wide on the half hour mark where there were better options available.
It was a pretty easy first half for Sporting but their apparent invincibility was thwarted just shy of the interval, as a handball inside the area allowed Mills to comfortably slot home from the spot.
Bromsgrove continued to dominate the play but were initially failing to extend their lead. They were unfortunate not to do so on the 52nd minute mark, as the consistent Robbie Bunn had a shot blocked off the line by a Chelmsley defender that looked destined for the goal.
Joe Haines proved a constant threat to the Chelmsley defence all game and had numerous attempts on goal before he secured Sporting’s third.
A beautifully whipped effort that just flew over the bar was followed by a header from a Lloyd corner that was tipped wide by stopper Kelly.
His goal would come courtesy of a thumped effort from the edge of the area, which found the keeper’s fingertips before rippling the net.
Sporting were to face the dreaded ‘squeaky bum time’ with five minutes to go however, as Danny Charlton nodded home a free header inside the box, leaving fans with jangling nerves for the dying embers.
Chelmsley’s Steve Sadler had a cross caught by Chris Jay two minutes from time but fortunately for the home side, they were able to hang on for three vital points.
This result leaves Sporting a point behind league leaders Leicester Road, who were winning 1-0 before their game got abandoned for fog, with a game in hand.
