The Midland Football League Division One - Saturday 17th October 2015 - 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Heath Hayes (1) 1 Bromsgrove Sporting 2 (1), The Coppice Colliery Ground.
Sporting welcomed Jack Wilson back to the Club for his third spell and he took his place at left back in place of Brendan Kelly. Otherwise there was a familiar look to the team that saw off Lye Town in the County Cup the previous Tuesday.
Autumn weather though was now a factor with a chilly wind blowing down the pitch and several spectators now donning scarves and gloves.
There was little to report for the first few minutes of the match as Sporting had the better of the possession and the home team crowded the mid-field. However Heath conceded a free kick just outside the box on 12 minutes that was taken as usual by Simon Fitter. His effort was not one of his best and it re-bounded off the wall but the ball fell to Connor Collins who was well-placed to drive home from 15 yards giving Sporting the lead.
The game them resumed where it left off before the goal with the home side having to work hard at their close-marking and Sporting unable to get behind the solid defensive wall.
As with many of Sporting's opponents, Heath relied on fast breaks and on 29 minutes their tactics paid off when they forced Fitter into a rare mistake as to skewed the ball to Joe Pickering only to foul the winger on the edge of the box in an attempt to recover. Pickering took the place kick himself, curling it nicely into the top corner of the net well beyond Josh Moreton's reach for the equaliser.
Sporting started the second half a bit more positively and were able to get the odd shot on target but only to find Mark Wiggins in the Heath goal in good form.
However the home side's defence was breeched for the second time on the 65th minute when Aaron Roberts grabbed his first goal of the season with a powerful header from Luke Dugmore's corner.
Knowing they had to get well out of their own half Heath took the game more to Sporting for the last few minutes and had arguably their best chance of the game with five minutes to go when the lively Joe Pickering sent the ball across the face of the Rouslers' goal but Alexander Scott was too far away to toe-poke it home.
Mr Clements played just two minutes of added time before blowing for the end. A deserved three points for Sporting but not the most inspiring of performances. They will play better but the three points lifts them up into third place in the league.
Heath Hayes (Blue/white shirts, blue shorts and white socks: Mark Wiggins, Harry Phillips (Steven Yates 83 mins), John Littler, Ryan Burns, Alexander Scott, Jack Arrowsmith (Capt.), Joey Geldart James Russell (80 mins), Jack Partridge, Craig Holland (Joe Hartshorne 73 mins), Daniel Scragg, Joe Pickering.
Substitute not used: Liam Degville
Goal: Pickering (29 mins)
Yellows: Phillips (63 mins), Wiggins (65 mins)
Sporting (green/white shirts, green shorts and socks): Josh Moreton, Aaron Roberts, Jack Wilson, Simon Fitter (Capt), Craig Jones, Jamie McKeon, Luke Dugmore, Reece Hewitt, Connor Collins (Josh McKenzie 73 mins), Sean Brain (Sam Wills 66 mins), Liam Spink.
Substitutes not used: Sam Delaney, Brendan Kelly, Dale Edwards
Goals: Collins (12 mins), Roberts (65 mins).
Cards: None
Referee: Mr. J Clements (Walsall)
Assistants: Mr K Williscroft (Rugeley), Mr A Holmes (Tipton)
Crowd: 115
Weather: Cool, overcast.
Sporting MoM: Aaron Roberts
Report: Phil Baker
