A fierce cold wind blew across the Malthouse Lane Ground but that did not deter a sizable crowd from seeing Sporting advance in the Smedley Crook Cup against a hard-working Earlswood Town side.

With a tough away match against Lichfield City on the following Tuesday, manager Paul Smith decided not to risk several first team players and gave games to a handful of junior players who all gave a good account of themselves.

The Rouslers scored one in each half but despite dominating play for long periods, chances were few owing to defending in numbers by the opposition and an uneven pitch that made skilful and controlled football difficult.

The home side seemed to warm up a bit quicker but Jamie Corrigan and Lewis James put their shots wide of the left-hand post and over the bar respectively. It was 18 minutes before Sporting had a good move with Aaron Roberts playing left-back taking the ball down the wing before crossing to Connor Collins whose glanced shot was palmed away by Earlswood 'keeper Daniel Rushe. A minute later the same striker had another good chance but scuffed his hot that Rushe easily gathered.

On 21 minutes though Collins did much better when he fired an angled shot forcing Rushe to make a one-handed save but unfortunately for the home side the ball found its way to Ethan Hanks who blasted home into an empty net to give Sporting the lead and their 100th goal of the season.

Rouslers attacks now started coming thick and fast as they attempted to increase the lead. Captain for the day, Sam Wills saw his free-kick well-saved by Rushe who also blocked Kyle Turner's re-bound, Dale Edwards hit the right hand post whilst Hanks also forced a good save.

Earlswood attempted to push forward but Mikey Corrigan's effort just before the interval went wide.

The second half continued much the same as Sporting tried to finish off the tie but Earlswood kept a firm back four and despite making little progress up field, they did prevent Sporting from increasing their lead with Rushe kept busy with another Wills free-kick and from a 25-yard effort from Dean Fisher making a his first start for the club.

However the second Sporting goal eventually came on the 70th minute via substitute Lewis Kemp making his debut as a Rousler putting in a fine cross from the right that Wills thundered into the top of the net giving Rushe no chance.

Sporting were then happy to sit on the lead until the final whistle though the home side just missed out on having the final word when Declan Staunton forced a low save from Chris Jay, his only real test of the afternoon.

So Sporting advance to the semi-final of the competition they won two seasons ago. They now wait for Rostance Edwards, Northfield Town and Sutton United to settle ties in previous rounds to find their next opponents.

Earlswood: Daniel Rushe, Richard Hopkins, Ryan Faulkner (Joe Cashley 72 mins), Declan Staunton, Nathan Boyce, Tom Keogh (Capt.), Mikey Corrigan (Thomas Giddings 81 mins), Lewis James, Marcus Small (Zac Cogger 64 mins), Jamie Corrigan, Russell Moyle.
Substitutes not used: Mohammed Abdeel, Nathan Smith.
Yellow: James (60 mins)

Sporting: Chris Jay, James McKeon (Liam Spink 59 mins), Aaron Roberts, Dean Fisher (Reece Hewitt 69 mins), Lucky Nwosu, Jake Willcox, Ethan Hanks, Dale Edwards (Ross Kemp 55 mins), Connor Collins, Sam Wills (61 mins), Kyle Turner.
Substitutes not used: Nathan Walker, Sean Brain.
Goals: Hanks (21 mins), wills (71 mins).
Cards: None.

Referee: Mr B Usher (Quedgley)
Assistants: Mr J Widdett (Worcester), Mr B Nyatanga (Worcester)

Crowd: 135
Weather: Cold, windy

Sporting Man of the Match: Lucky Nwosu
Reporter: Phil Baker

Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup, Round 3, Saturday 27th February 2016

Earlswood Town's young side entertained Bromsgrove Sporting in this third round of the Smedley-Crooke Cup game. A goal in each half by Ethan Hanks and Sam Wills was enough to take Sporting through to the semi-finals in front of a healthy 135 crowd who watched the game which was played on a cold February afternoon. The visitors, with five ex Town players in their ranks and sitting in second place in the Midland League Division One were probably just on top for most of the game but Earls, who are in bottom spot in Division Two are certainly showing improved form since Keith Green and Gerry Corrigan took charge had plenty of the mid-field play but were pegged back mid-way inside the Bromsgrove half and did not really trouble Bromsgrove keeper Chis Jay with any awkward shots. Play was mainly confined to mid-field for the first fifteen minutes with Daniel Rushe in the Earlswood goal the busier of the two keepers. In the 17th minute Daniel Rushe had to come way off his line to cut out a centre and collected the ball of the head Sam Wills who was waiting to nod the ball home. Sporting took the lead two minutes later when a cross shot was deflected out by Rushe to the feet of the oncoming Ethan Hands who was in the right spot to fire the ball home. After this Earls had an attacking spell in the Bromsgrove half but nothing to worry Jay in the visitor's goal. At the other end Rushe was called into action and lost the ball but was judged to have been fouled by an opponent. After 32 minutes A Bromsgrove defender headed the ball back to his keeper from mid-way in his half and the keeper only just got to the ball as Marcus Small gave chase. Bromsgrove were on the attack again in the 39th minute and a good shot from one of their forwards saw Daniel Rushe push the ball out for a corner via the goal post. Earls attacked during the last few minutes of the half and were awarded a free kick with skipper Thomas Keogh lifting his shot over the wall but it was easily dealt with by the Sporting keeper. It was a good first half for Earls given the gap between the divisional places between the teams.
H. T. 0-1
The first ten minutes of the second half was pretty even with both teams creating chances and after 52 minutes the referee awarded Earlswood a free kick in the Sporting half of the pitch which the Bromsgrove defence easily cleared upfield. In the 55th minute a Sporting player went down the right flank and put over a good cross for one of their forwards to go close with a header. After this Sporting took the initiative and were slightly on top but mostly in the Earlswood half and although Earls were defending well they never really had anyone to trouble Jay in the Bromsgrove goal when they did attack. Bromsgrove increased their lead in the 72nd minute with a shot from former Earlswood striker Sam Wills and although Daniel Rushe got a hand to the ball he could not stop it going into the net. Both teams made changes after this and Bromsgrove took the initiative after bringing on some seasoned players to replace the younger ones. In the final minutes of the game Earls pushed forward but it was the visitors who had the best chance in the last minute with a header that went just wide. All in all a good all round performance by the Earls youngsters who were never phased by the good natured banter from the Bromsgrove supporters and gave a good display against a team from a division higher.

Attendance 135