Midland Football League Division 1

Monday 25th. August 2014

Pilkington XXX 2 (1) Bromsgrove Sporting 3 (1)

Bromsgrove Sporting travelled the short distance to Kings Norton for their Bank Holiday fixture against Pilkington XXX. Sporting again had a debut boy with Gary Hay starting up front.

On a very wet afternoon, which made ball control difficult, Sporting were out of the traps quickly taking the lead as early as the 7th. minute when Jozsef Jakab received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and slipped in Gary Hay who scored with a right foot shot from 12 yards.

Pilkington gradually got back into the game and started to control midfield, with Jake Bedford having to save with his feet in a forceful attack, Pilkington's pressure finally paid off in the 25th. minute when former Rousler Odane Barnes cut in from the left and found Jack McGinn whose shot took a deflection and wrong footed Bedford.

As half time approached Sporting started to look lively again, with some dangerous crosses coming in from Rico Taylor, which unfortunately came to nothing, Jakab came close right on the interval when his shot went just wide from a difficult angle after good work by Hay and Scott Hadland had set up the chance.

Half Time - Pilkington XXX 1 Bromsgrove Sporting 1

Sporting nearly took the lead immediately after the break when a Danny Ludlow corner was headed just wide by Scott Smith, 2 minutes later the same combination occurred with the same result, Sporting were now getting a head of steam up and it was no surprise when they re-took the lead after 53 minutes when Taylor jinked past 2 defenders and set up Jakab who scored with aplomb from the left hand side of the penalty area.

Sporting at this stage were controlling matters and seemed to make the game safe when in the 71st. minute when a Simon Fitter free kick found the head of Hay in the area and despite a valiant effort by Reece Francis in the Pilkington goal, couldn't keep the ball out of the net.

Pilkington got back into the game in the 76th. minute following a corner from the left and after a goalmouth scramble the ball was bundled home by Josh Lloyd-Maddams, this encouraged the men from Kings Norton and were unlucky not to equalise when a fierce shot by Jack Gauntlett forced Bedford into a fine full length fingertip save.

Pilkington threw everything at the Bromsgrove defence in trying to get the all important goal, but with tiring legs the men form the Victoria Ground held out for a very important 3 points. Not the greatest performance but a very important result.

Full Time - Pilkington XXX 2 Bromsgrove Sporting 3

Pilkington XXX - Reece Francis, Phil Chesters, Jake Harvey (Matthew Stirzaker 69 mins), Jak Walton, Kieran McCalla, Craig Oldfield (Reiss O'Connor 65 mins), Josh Lloyd-Maddams, Jack McGinn, Kyle Turner, Odane Barnes, Joseph Wykes (Jack Gauntlett 78 mins). Sub not used - Oliver Jones

Bromsgrove Sporting - Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan, Danny Ludlow, Scott Hadland, Scott Smith, Craig Jones, Robbie Ager, Simon Fitter, Gary Hay (Kieran Pace 87 mins), Jozsef Jakab (Joe Brookes 80 mins), Rico Taylor. Subs not used - George Coley, Ryan Andrews.