Bromsgrove Sporting's title ambitions got off to the best possible start on Saturday afternoon, as they cruised to a 3-0 victory against Southam United in their first game of the 2016/17 Midland Football League Division One.
New signing Chris Lloyd continued his sparkling start in a Sporting shirt with a beautifully chipped effort on the 40th minute mark before fellow recent acquisition Ahmed Ali scored just before the half time whistle to give the Rouslers a commanding lead heading into the interval.
It was a hat trick for new faces at the Victoria Ground, as talismanic striker Tony Clarke headed home Bromsgrove's third to ensure that they would back up their authoritative performance with all three points on their first league game of the season.
Sporting started the game with real urgency and could have taken the lead inside a minute, as the exciting Lucky Nwosu passed to Robbie Bunn, who just struck wide.
Nwosu caused Southam all sorts of problems in the early stages, as his speed and skill allowed him to beat defenders at will. His cross into the box on six minutes was backheeled towards goal by Clarke but saved by Thomas Bryce, with the follow up chipped effort from Lloyd spectacularly headed off the line.
Clarke had numerous chances inside the next 20 minutes, the best of which being a sumptuous, looping volley that clattered the crossbar off the back of a pinpoint Luke Edwards ball forward.
The next quarter of an hour was slightly frustrating for Sporting, as they dominated play, with Ali and Nathan Walker controlling proceedings expertly in the middle of the park, yet had nothing to show for their dominance.
The 39th minute finally saw Bromsgrove break the deadlock, as Lloyd latched onto a delicate lofted ball from the skilful Joe Haines and nonchalantly lobbed the ball over the helpless Bryce in the Southam goal.
A minute before half time saw Ali get a richly deserved goal for his endeavour, as he thumped home from close range, in the midst of a goalmouth scramble that came from Walker's accurate corner.
Southam had very few chances which was testament to Bromsgrove's resilient defence throughout; their best effort on goal being a 50th minute Daniel Brierley free kick that rolled safely into the arms of Chris Jay, on what was a very quiet afternoon for the Sporting stopper.
The game was put beyond any doubt on the hour mark, as Walker's corner taking ability was seen to good effect once again, this time finding the head of Clarke who powerfully guided the ball home, much to the jubilation of the Shed End faithful.
The final fifteen minutes were somewhat quiet, with Haines continuing his fine display with a shot from 20 yards that was comfortably saved and Clarke having a one on one saved after a neat pass from substitute Chrisi Conway the only major highlights.
A comfortable start for Sporting, putting them 2nd, in a game that will be remembered as the first competitive home game since the sad passing of chairman Jon Prescott, who was honoured in an impeccably observed pre-match silence and 69th minute applause, his age when he died.
Sporting: Chris Jay, Danny Morris, Joe Haines, Lucky Nwosu (Chrisi Conway 73 mins), Luke Edwards (Dale Edwards 62 mins), Jake Willcox, Nathan Walker, Robbie Bunn (Sean Brain 62 mins), Ahmed Ali, Tony Clarke Chris Lloyd.
Subs not used: Jack Wilson, Lewis Kemp.
Yellow: Luke Edwards (47 mins)
Crowd: 425
Weather: Warm, sunny.
OPENING DAY DEFEAT AT THE VICTORIA GROUND
By David Hucker
Title favourites Bromsgove Sporting proved too strong for Saints in this opening Midland League Division One fixture at the Victoria
A minute's silence before the game and a minute's applause in the 69th minute were observed by everyone in memory of former Sporting chairman Jon Prescott who suddenly passed away last month.
Sporting came into the match on a high, having ended Stratford Town's unbeaten pre-season run with a 2-1 win, following up with another victory by the same margin at Evo-Stik Northern Premier Halesowen Town to complete a 100% record over seven matches.
The two sides met on the opening day of last season when the match ended 1-1, but Sporting were keen to go one better, coming quickly out of the starting blocks and hitting the woodwork twice in the space of 11 minutes.
Tony Clarke was the first to rattle the crossbar in the 26th minute, collecting Luke Edwards' deep pass from the back before hitting a superb volley. Then, a solo effort from Chris Lloyd saw the pacey winger hit the post after cutting inside from the left.
Lloyd broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when Joe Haines chipped the ball through the Saints defence and his deft touch beat on-rushing keeper Thomas Bryce. Five minutes later it was 2-0 when, from Nathan Walker's corner from the right, Bryce fumbled the ball, allowing an unmarked Ahmed Ali to fire home.
Sporting were fortunate not to be reduced to ten men in the 46th minute when Luke Edwards, who was clearly the last man, wrestled Matt Omari to the ground 20 yards from goal, but referee Steven Hughes only gave the defender a yellow card. From the resultant free-kick, Danny Brierley saw his well-driven effort comfortably claimed low-down by Chris Jay in the Sporting goal.
Sporting continued to keep Saints camped in their own half and Tony Clarke made it 3-0 in the 58th minute with a powerful header from Walker's cross. Omari and Zuhayb Abdirahman had long-range efforts which failed to trouble Jay and Sporting came close to adding a fourth in the 80th minute when substitute Chris Conway broke free of his marker, but his pass to Clarke was too heavy and it drifted out for a goal kick.
"We set our stall out and played well, but Sporting were just too good for us" said coach Alex Baird.
Bromsgrove Sporting: Chris Jay [Capt.], Lucky, Nwosu, Joe Haines, Daniel Morris, Jake Willcox, Luke Edwards, Ahmed Ali, Nathan Walker, Tony Clarke, Robbie Bunn, Chris Lloyd
Subs used: Dale Edwards, Chris Conway, Sean Brain
Subs not used: Lewis Kemp, Jack Wilson
Southam United Thomas Bryce, George Swain, Jermaine Henry, Daniel Hume, Ben Nicholson [Capt.], Paul Holland, Zuhayb Abdirahman, Alex Baird, Matt Omari, Matthew Wyatt, Daniel Brierley
Subs used: Kieran Warren, Simon Forsdick, Thomas Weston
Subs not used: Lee Kelly, Khamisi, Lightbourne
Match Officials: Referee Steven Hughes, Assistants Malcolm Steward and Andy Genders
Player of the Match: Ben Nicholson
Attendance: 425
(With thanks to Craig Gibbons of the Bromsgrove Standard)
