An assured and steady display from Sporting saw them gain a valuable win against one of their nearest rivals and leave them needing just one more victory to win the league writes Phil Baker.

A large crowd made up of mainly Bromsgrove supporters descended on the Leicester Road Stadium with my tension and anticipation in the air.

Both teams looked to be a little nervous early on and like boxers appeared to be sizing up the opposition before making any attacking moves. As a result most of the play was in the middle of the field and any attempt by either side to create chances were smothered by well-disciplined back fours.

The first real incident of the night came on the 16th minute when Sporting’s Jason Cowley went down in the box when challenged by Josh Unsworth but much to the chagrin of the away fans, referee Mr Kidd signalled no foul.

Ten minutes later and Sporting were now getting further forward and dominating the play. Chris Lloyd put a first-time ball into the box only for Cowley’s attempted shot to be deflected over the bar. Lloyd then took the resulting corner floating over a delightful ball to the far post that was met by Luke Edwards who with time and space available made no mistake as he headed into the top of Will Highland’s net to give his team the lead.

With nerves now steadied, Sporting concentrated more on retaining possession and holding the ball in midfield before attempting to thread passes to the front runners but precious few chances were created and the scoreline remained unchanged at half-time.

After the interval, the game opened up for both sides as Leicester Road did what they knew they had to do and push forward if they were to get back into the match. With 54 minutes gone, Aaron Roberts supplied Reece Hewitt down the left but the slippery winger put his shot over the bar. A couple of minutes later, the home side had their best chance of the match when Greg Downes put Joe Lyne through but he too hooked his shot over the bar.

Sporting’s best chance of the half came on the 62nd minute when Hewitt was clattered just outside the penalty area only for Chris Lloyd’s place kick to bounce of the bar.

Later on Robbie Bunn’s 25-yard strike went agonizingly close whist Cowley nearly got a second for Sporting when he intercepted a poor clearance from Highland but his shot went wide.

Leicester Road’s plan was to pump balls up to their forwards but few met their target mainly due to excellent defensive play particularly by Danny Morris who mopped up all threats.

Mr Kidd added four minutes of added time and when he finally blew for the end a mixture of relief and delight engulfed the large hoard of visiting supporters.

Leicester Road: Will Highland, Jordan Burrows, Jack Harrison, Greg Downes (Capt), Josh Unsworth, Callum Earls McGlinchey (Amarvir Sandhu 59 mins), Joe Lyne, Matt Stenson, Jake Holt, Billy Bennett (Sam Munton 84 mins).
Substitutes not used: Josh Smith, Jack Humphries, Ken Hughes.
Yellow: Jake Holt (90+1 mins)

Sporting: Jon Brown, Aaron Roberts, Danny Morris, Liam Spink (Keenen Meakin-Richards 72 mins), Craig Jones (Capt), Luke Edwards, Chris Lloyd (Alfie Bloomer 72 mins), Robbie Bunn, Jason Cowley, Ahmed Ali, Reece Hewitt.
Subs not used: Sam Wills, John Pykett, Luke Shorthouse.
Goal: Luke Edwards (26 mins).
Yellows: Liam Spink (67 mins), Luke Edwards (78 mins)

Referee: Mr T Kidd (Coventry)
Assistants: Mr S King (Melton Mowbray), Mr L Fletcher (Leicester)

Crowd: 426
Weather: Cool, dry.

Sport Man of the Match: Danny Morris.

Hinckley’s Leicester Road FC lost their unbeaten home record to tough, resilient and streetwise league leaders Bromsgrove Sporting in a close encounter decided by the odd goal.

A powerful header from a corner on 27 mins that gave LRFC keeper Will Highland no chance was all that separated the two teams in a game of few clear cut chances and where both sides largely cancelled each other out.

LRFC began tentatively and Bromsgrove’s very direct style stretched them, with a clear two-on-one wasted by the visiting team on 13 minutes and LRFC centre backs Josh Unsworth and Callum Earls both blocking goal-bound efforts.

Bromsgrove’s lively No.9 Jason Cowley curled one inches wide on 17 mins and a looping header from the same player was guided past the post from Unsworth on 26 mins, but from the resultant corner Bromsgrove defender Luke Edwards rose highest in a crowded box and LRFC were one down.

Towards the end of the first half Bromsgrove tried the same tactic again from a corner on the opposite side, but this time Highland gathered easily and LRFC went in just 1-0 down with all to play for. Whilst Bromsgrove were enjoying the majority of the possession, it was Leicester Road who looked more dangerous on the break.

Leicester Road began the second half with much more intent and purpose, with their patient build up style of play frustrating the visitors. However, a defensive mix up on 55 mins left the Bromsgrove left winger Reece Hewitt free, but he blazed over when well placed.

Two minutes later LRFC’s Joseph Lyne beat a couple of defenders on the left and cut it back nicely for Tom McGlinchey on the edge of the box, but it fell to his less favoured left foot and he just hooked it over the bar with the visitor’s defence all at sea. Moments later Billy Bennett also had sight of goal but his rasping shot was just over too.

Bromsgrove were now having to counter attack and on 60 mins the busy Cowley let fly from just outside the box and keeper Highland saved well at full stretch. Shortly after he was called into action again, tipping a stinging free kick by Chris Lloyd onto the bar after a dubious free kick was awarded.

Amarvir Sandhu replaced McGlinchey on 63 minutes, as LRFC looked to stretch the Bromsgrove defence even further and a period of sustained pressure by Leicester Road followed, with a succession of corners won. Perhaps a few more shots from distance might have paid dividends for LRFC, but they continued to pass and probe intelligently outside the box, with that final, cutting through ball just eluding them.

On 72 mins Bromsgrove broke clear and sent another half chance over the bar, but it was LRFC forcing the game with two Bromsgrove players being yellow carded in quick succession for cynical fouls on Leicester Road’s Jake Holt, who was starting to boss the midfield.

The same player fired over on 80 mins, but minutes later he linked well with No. 9 Matty Stenson, who almost put Sandhu clean through with a clever pass.

Sam Munton replaced Bennett for LRFC on 86 minutes and was quickly into the action, while Sandhu was pulled back when away from his marker in what should have been another booking, but despite forcing some more corners LRFC couldn’t trouble the Bromsgrove keeper – and the visitors were content to play out the 5 minutes of overtime in and around the LRFC corner flags to run the clock down.