The Pitching-In Southern League Premier Division Central - Saturday 1st April 2023, 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Nuneaton Borough 4 (1) Bromsgrove Sporting 0 (0) at Liberty Way
Sorry to report but another disappointing Saturday afternoon for Bromsgrove Sporting as they were beaten by a useful Nuneaton Borough side.
The Rouslers started brightly enough and probably played their best football in the first ten minutes before their opponents had really woken up. As early as the fourth minute, Ayo Lekuti forced former Rousler Tony Breedon in a tip over following a good cross from Conor Tee.
However as the game went on Nuneaton started to dominate making good use of long balls up field and that worked well for them on the 19th minute when a cross into the Bromsgrove penalty area found Jaanai Gordon; Jack Newell attempted to dispossess him but caught his ankles and referee Mr Conde immediately pointed to the spot. Ryan Beswick converted, sending 'keeper Ollie Taylor the wrong way.
Sporting did gain a few free-kicks but little came of them as the home back four mopped up any moves in the last third of the pitch, though Tee did put a decent effort over the bar just before the interval.
Immediately after the break, Prince Henry replaced Ammar Dyer in an attempt to bolster Sporting's attacking options but The Boro had ideas of their own and with just four minutes of the half gone, Taylor tipped over a rasping shot from Ricardo Dinanga after the lively wing-back beat the Bromsgrove offside trap. However Nuneaton scored their second from the resulting set-piece when Scott McManus glanced in Isaiah Osborne's corner.
The third of the afternoon came with 68 minutes gone when another long ball found Gordon just well inside their opponents' half and with just Taylor to beat, he hit hard and low into the bottom left-hand corner.
Seven minutes later, Nuneaton scored their fourth and final goal and probably their best of the afternoon as Camron McWilliams made a great run down the right outpacing the Sporting back four before unleashing a powerful drive low into the corner of Taylor's net.
Sporting did rally a little during the last 15 minutes with Kartell Dawkins in particular attempting to motivate his team mates but a combination of tired legs and solid defending by the home side meant that nothing came of the few moves into the Nuneaton box.
Due to other teams around them also under-performing, Sporting remain in 15th place, six points above the relegation zone. They should be safe and a couple of results should ensure Premier Division football next season but it looks like being a nail-biting end to the campaign.
Sporting line-up: Ollie Taylor (Capt), Ammar Dyer (Prince Henry 46 mins), Jack Newell, Jo Curtis, Mikel Brown (Nathan Kabeya 68 mins), Mike McGrath, Kartell Dawkins, Conor Tee, Tris Dunkley (Jack Tolley 74 mins), Brandon Smalley, Ayo Lekuti.
Unused substitutes: M Sebbeh, Lewis Wright
Referee: Mr J Conde
Crowd: 604
Sporting Player of the Match: Kartell Dawkins
