On a freezing night when many of the crowd sought refuge in the bar Sporting picked up three more valuable points with a win that was comfortable than the scoreline suggests. The Rouslers made a good start and went in front on eight minutes a good ball from the back releasing Dan Wilkes whose cross was turned in by Jamie Siviter.
In the early stages Sporting were totally dominant with Enville struggling to get the ball let alone launch any attacks. The only incident of note in Sporting's half was the substitution of goalkeeper Chris Mole by Jim McGettrick after 20 minutes. Barnes was nearly put through only to be stopped by a good challenge and Nick Harris shot wide after being set up by good work from Chris Bright.
It took half an hour for the visitors to have serious attack when McGettrick saved low to his right after Gareth Rogers had been caught in possession on the edge of the penalty area. As half time approached the Rouslers play lost some of its earlier fluency but a second goal came in added time, Neil Cooksey heading in from a free kick.
Sporting began the second half strongly with Michael Woolman who had replaced the injured Odane Barnes shortly after the half hour prominent in their best moves. He forced a good save from keeper Blount on 50 minutes and scored the third on 55, with a powerful header from a corner. It was from Woolman's cross that Dan Wilkes had a shot on the turn that just cleared the cross bar while Bright and Woolman again went close.
It is to Enville's credit that despite being outplayed they didn't cave in. They got back into the game on 72 minutes, burly striker Clarke netting from close range after the Sporting defence failed to deal with a free kick into the box. After that Sporting played out the game comfortably although if Enville had taken a good chance on 89 minutes added time might have been interesting.
This Sporting team is still a work in progress but already we can see a good footballing side developing and one that can beat anyone in this division when they play well. They weren't always at their best tonight but it was more than enough against spirited but limited opponents.
Off to Cadbury's on Saturday . Let's hope for the sweet taste of victory again.
Sporting. Mole (McGettrick 20), Bright, Gareth Rogers, Huckfield, Cooksey, Allen, Harris, Jamie Rogers, Barnes (Woolman 33), Siviter (Blood 79), Wilkes
Subs Not Used: McKeon, May
Enville Athletic. Blount, O'Donovan, Arnold (Browne 85), Rose, Hield, Reynolds, Peniket, Becke, Clarke, Baxter (Watts 70), Poole (Round 70).
Subs Not Used: Ward, Duncan
