The Pitching-In Southern League Premier Division Central, Saturday 11th March 2023, 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Sporting 0 (0) Coalville Town (3) 4 at The Victoria Ground
Things could not have got off to a worse start for Sporting last Saturday writes Shaunna-Grace Murphy. Half an hour before the kick-off Callum King-Harmes sustained a serious knee injury during the warm-up necessitating a call to the emergency services and a delay to the kick-off time. It was unfortunate for the youngster as he was due to make his first league start since last October. There was no fracture and just ligament damage but he will probably be out of action for a few months.
Moving on the football and Sporting realised from the start that they were up against a good team as the Ravens had several good moves into Bromsgrove territory. Then with just seven minutes on the clock, Coalville winger Luke Shaw fired a shot just inside the box that 'keeper Ollie Taylor had covered only to take a deflection from Ayo Lekuti and end up in the back of the net.
At the other end, Jack Tolley was making brave attempt to get the Rouslers back into the game and could have equalised on 17 minutes but for a fine save from the opposition's Paul White. Moments later, Coalville's Tom McGlinchey managed to get past the Sporting back four thundering a shot against the post but Sporting relief was short-lived as the winger calmly put away the rebound to give his side a two-goal margin.
The third for the Ravens came a few minutes before half-time and again it was McGlinchey on target who slotted home from the middle of the penalty area after picking up a pass from Timothy Berridge.
To be fair to Sporting they played quite well in the second half and although it was a tall order for them to overhaul a 3-0 deficit, they worked hard, playing some neat football and although they looked good going forward, a combination solid defending from Coalville and sheer bad luck with 50/50 balls ending up with the opposition prevented them from getting on to the score sheet. However Brandon Smalley continued his good form with set pieces forcing White in a decent save on the 52nd minute from a free-kick.
Frustration though boiled over with 20 minutes to play when a challenge from Ammar Dyer saw referee Mr Nicholson issue a straight red card to the home defender.
Despite being a man down, it looked as if the Sporting would avoid the scoreline getting any worse but in the last minute, Ravens' substitute Tendia Chitiza headed in from a cross supplied by Eliott Putnam.
So a miserable afternoon for Sporting that leaves player/manager Mike McGrath another couple of players missing for the visit next week to second placed Leiston in Suffolk. However there is a good team spirit and with fair wind there is no reason why his team cannot finish the season comfortably in mid-table.
Sporting line-up: Ollie Taylor, Ammar Dyer, Ayo Lekuti, Kartell Dawkins, Tom Taylor (Capt), Mike McGrath, Conor Tee, Mo Sebbeh (Joe Curtis 84 mins), Miro Pais (Lewis Wright 71 mins), Brandon Smalley, Jack Tolley (Dewain Sewell 68 mins). Unused substitutes: Adam Marusiak, Dewain Sewell
Referee: Mr D Nicholson
Crowd: 511
Sporting Man of the Match: Kartell Dawkins
