FA Cup Preliminary Round - Saturday 29th August 2015 - 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Sporting (1) 2 Hinckley AFC (4) 6
Bromsgrove Sporting's dreams of a mouth-watering FA Cup tie against Redditch United were emphatically crushed on Saturday afternoon, as a rampant Hinckley ran out 6-2 winners against a listless home side.
The visitors made their presence felt immediately and it only took them seven minutes to take the lead. Ex-Sporting star Sean Williams came back to haunt his former team, as his low cross found Luke Richards who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Despite this early sucker punch, Sporting were fairly quick to respond. On the quarter hour mark, a cross from promising new signing Dale Edwards found the head of Sam Wills, who managed to guide the ball over the Hinckley defence and into the goal. Things almost got even better for Bromsgrove when Edwards finished off a scything run with a powerful drive from range. However, Hinckley stopper Sam Arnold was equal to it, palming the ball wide.
Unfortunately for Sporting, things went rapidly downhill from there. The nineteenth minute saw centre back Simon Fitter receive a contentious red card for a challenge on Javia Roberts. There was a collective gasp as referee Mr Readett gave Fitter his marching orders, for a tackle that didn't appear to warrant such a severe punishment.
The resultant free kick was dispatched with aplomb by Nathan Walker. His pinpoint effort from just outside the area flew into the top corner, leaving Sporting stopper Brendon Bunn with no chance.
Two minutes later, Hinckley's lead was doubled. The away side flooded the box and a beleaguered Bromsgrove just couldn't deal with the pressure. It could have been any one of four players who scored but in the end, it was Jean Kalenda who inflicted further misery onto Sporting; his shot finding the back of the net.
Sporting almost made their way back into the game on the 39th minute, when Luke Dugmore's fierce shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Arnold. Instead, it was to be Hinckley who scored just before the half time whistle. Marco Adaggio found himself with the freedom of Worcestershire as he roamed through the defence, eventually slotting home and effectively putting the tie to bed.
The second half didn't bring about any change in fortunes whatsoever for Bromsgrove. Luke Richards added a second to his tally ten minutes in; his strike from inside the box flew past a stranded Bunn and into the goal.
A Josh McKenzie header on the 80th minute ensured a consolation goal for Sporting but Hinckley extended their lead back to four goals in the fourth minute of added time. Adaggio clinched his second with a simple tap-in into an empty net after the ball rebounded off the post.
The early red card did have an impact on the game but to say it affected the outcome would not pay justice to Hinckley's dominance. They were on a different level to a Sporting side that didn't seem to be at the races.
Sporting: Brendon Bunn, Aaron Roberts, Brendan Kelly, Simon Fitter, Craig Jones, Jamie McKeon (Scott Smith (26 mins), Luke Dugmore (Jon Myrie 71 mins), Reece Hewitt (Joe Adams 60 mins), Josh McKenzie, Sam Wills, Dale Edwards.
Unused substitutes: Shaun Edwards, Ollie Gibson, John Pykett, Sean Brain.
Goals: Sam Wills (16 mins), Josh McKenzie (78 mins).
Yellows: Reece Hewitt (31 mins), Brendan Kelly (70 mins), Joe Adams (81 mins), Sam Wills (88 mins)
Red: Simon Fitter (19 mins)
Hinckley: Sam Arnold, Mitchell Tomlinson, Alex Morris, Dominic Smith, Jean Kalenda, Neil McKenzie (Darious Darkin 60 mins), Javia Roberts (Rico Taylor 60 mins), Nathan Walker, Sean Williams (Deqwon Ebanks 71 mins), Marco Adaggio, Luke Richards.
Unused substitutes: Oliver Basham, Jack Hartopp, Jamie Newton, Justin Nisbett.
Goals: Luke Richards (7, 52 mins), Nathan Walker (21 mins), Jean Kalenda (23 mins), Marco Adaggio (44, 90+2 mins).
Yellows: Nathan Walker (28 mins), Jean Kalenda (66 mins), Rico Taylor (70 mins).
Referee: Mr C Readett (Halesowen).
Assistants: Mr C Thompson (Bromsgrove), Mr A Buchanan (Bromsgrove)
Crowd: 386
Weather; Warm, bright.
Reporter: Max Banner.
