Midland Football League Division One – Monday 29h August – 3:00 p.m. kick-off

Heather St John 0 (0) Bromsgrove Sporting 3 (1) at St Johns Park

A welcome return to form by Sporting saw them gain another valuable three points but not before they encountered some fairly stiff opposition from Heather St John.

For the opening few minutes both sides pretty much cancelled each other out in the middle of the park with neither side even getting close to a chance.

It was 13 minutes before we had the first shot from Heathers Keiran Robinson but that sailed over the bar. Sporting then had their first real effort a minute later but Chris Lloyds weak shot was easily gathered by home keeper Ben Allsop.

With neither side able to make much progress frustrations began to show with tetchy fouls but with slightly superior midfield play, Sporting began to dominate proceedings and chances followed. Sean Brain had a good effort cleared off the line whilst Luke Edwards and Tony Clarke both headed over. But it was Lloyd who was looking the most dangerous and getting into good positions. His efforts were finally rewarded on the 40th minute when Robbie Bunn chipped a delightful cross to the unmarked striker out on the left giving him plenty of time to line up his shot and half-volley into the net from 15 yards out.

Heather attempted to get back into the match quickly and should have done better just before half-time when a cross-field pass from Luke Delaney went straight through the Sporting penalty area without anybody managing to get a touch.

In the second half, The Rouslers continued where they left off retaining most of the possession and preventing their opponents from getting much into their half. Heather did themselves no favours on 71 minutes when defender Dominic Perkins went off for an early shower after picking up a second yellow card after clattering Keenen Meakin-Richards.

Meakin-Richards took the resulting free-kick from just in front of the box curling the ball wide of Allsops left-arm that went over the line off the underside of the bar.

Moments later Aaron Roberts had a point blank header well saved by Allsop that nearly carried the keeper into the back of his own net but it was Brain who had the last word with a couple of minutes to go when he picked up a loose ball out on the right that he drove home under the diving Allsop from a narrow angle.

After the match, Sporting assistant manager Adam Cunningham said "We played better today with a bit more tempo and took our chances, so I am happy with the result".

Heather: Ben Allsop, Leon Weller, Shane Smith, Sean Ellis (Toumani Sidibe 68 mins), Lyndon Weller (Capt.), Dominic Perkins, Luke Delaney (Charlie Shaw 46 mins), Eddie Wilson, Nathaniel Lewars, Joel Ambalu (Jake Healy 56 mins), Keiran Robinson.

Unused substitutes: Kyro Sharpe, Ahkeem Rose

Yellows: Luke Delaney (22 mins), Eddie Wilson (59 mins).

Red: Dominic Perkins (Yellows 52 mins and 71 mins)

Sporting: Chris Jay, Aaron Roberts, Jack Wilson, Keenen Meakin-Richards (Lucky Nwosu 84 mins) (58 mins), Danny Morris, Luke Edwards, Ahmed Ali (Nathan Walker 62 mins), Robbie Bunn, Tony Clarke (Dale Edwards 74 mins), Chris Lloyd, Sean Brain.

Scorers: Chris Lloyd (40 mins), Keenen Meakin-Richards (72 mins), Sean Brain (88 mins)

Subs not used: Jake Willcox, Joe Haines.

Yellows: Chris Jay (31 mins), Tony Clarke (39 mins)

Referee: Mr R Ricardo

Assistants: Mr W Cemis, Mr C Fisk

Weather: Warm, sunny.

Crowd: 98

Sporting MoM: Chris Lloyd

Reporter: Phil Baker