Bromsgrove Sporting can have no complaints on a third consecutive away defeat as their ambitious 3-5-2 formation was outplayed by their hosts for large portions of the game.
The visitors, however, had a strong opening. Joe Brookes saw a clever free kick cleared off the line as early .the 3rd minute and then Chris Conway had a 20 yard shot deflected that Dave Watson was able to scramble away for a corner.
Dave Barnett was deprived on a couple of occassions by Chris Mole before Ryan Slinn was gifted a free header at the far post from Aden Moore's cross to give the home team the lead on 15 minutes
The lead was doubled 5 minutes later, Moore converting from the penalty spot after a poor challenge on Slinn in the area.
Sporting were back in the game almost immediately, Jon Rogers scoring from close range against the run of play.
Aaron Roberts was guilty of wasting a great opportunity to level the score on 31 minutes, failing to hit the target from 6 yards when in space from a Rogers right wing cross.
Mole did well to save from Barnett and Slinn in the second period whilst Sporting's only real effort came from James Turk who fired over the crossbar from a Brookes corner.
Sporting made three substitutions to no avail and Griff completing the scoring on the night 2 minutes from time with a low shot from 8 yards.
NUNEATON GRIFF 3 BROMSGROVE SPORTING 1
MOORE OF THE SAME FOR GRIFF
Brian Atkinson reports from the Pingles.
The Griff bandwagon rolls on as they posted another good shift against the Premier new-boys, Aden Moore added another brace and the impressive Ryan Slinn the o9ther.
Hildreth and Birch were missing from the squad through work and illness.
Sporting started the brighter and Watson made a fine early save with Greenway mopping up, in return Thomson fired over.
On seventeen minutes Griff took the lead following a lovely move, Thomson crossed to the far post where Ryan Slinn rose to direct a header past Mole.
Griff were moving sweetly now and on twenty two Slinn moved in off the left wing into the area where he was brought down for a penalty. Aden Moore sent Mole the wrong way from the spot.
Within a couple of minutes Sporting were back in it from a fine move began and ended by Jon Rogers, he worked a one-two into the area and finished well past the exposed Watson.
Roberts then went close as he got on the end of a difficult cross but bundled it wide.
Griff came out for the restart all guns blazing with Thomson curling just wide and Barnett ending a superb run with a cross which bounced back off the bar. Twice shots were blocked as they went for the jugular.
Bromsgrove put some good moves together but a mean defence kept them out, it was a good contest.
With ten minutes to go and Griff on the ascendancy once more the busy Dan Pritchard sent Aden Moore on his way down the inside right channel and the prolific striker made no mistake with a thumping drive to beat Mole on his near post.
Another fine performance from the Heartlanders to set them up nicely for their F.A. Cup clash with Sporting Khalsa on Saturday.
Nuneaton Griff:
Watson, Faulconbridge, Lillicrapp, Greenway, Millerchip, Pritchard, Barnett, Bexter, Moore, Thomson, Slinn (Scobbie 89). Subs not used: Hutchinson, A.Gallagher, Robinson.
Bromsgrove Sporting:
Mole, Martin, Parker, C.Thurbon (Bright 68), Brookes, Turk, Draper (Baker 88), Roberts, Rogers, Deehan (Kelly 80).
Referee: C.Lewis (Birmingham)
