A thrilling and pulsating match played in front of a large crowd saw Bromsgrove Sporting overcome a skilful and determined Southam United to win the Midland Football League's Les James Challenge Cup.
With Sporting playing in a prestigious stadium for the first time, the large crowd made up of mainly Bromsgrove supporters were in a noisy and celebratory mood even before the players came on to the pitch to tumultuous applause.
From the kick-off, both teams started at a frantic pace and it soon became obvious that this Southam side was better team than that Sporting beat 7-0 just before Christmas. Former Rousler Chris Bright had the first real opportunity on the 4th minute but his shot was blocked by Jack Wilson, whilst a couple of minutes later Josh McKenzie went just wide of the left hand post.
The game though turned on the 10th minute when Wilson was adjudged to have handled in the box and Mr Postin immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Louis Bridges duly despatched for Southam sending Jake Bedford the wrong way.
Cue for Sporting to get their act together who then attempted to stretch their opponents by moving the ball around more. Aaron Williams had a good attempt cleared off the line but the equaliser came on the 19th minutes from Reece Hewitt whose hard-hit angled shot went wide of Tom Cross between the Southam sticks after a good interchange of passes with Josh McKenzie.
For the remainder of the half there was no let up with the action. Both teams exchanged blows in pretty equal measure but after good work in mid-field nobody really tested either goalkeeper. The best chance going to Sam Wills a minute before the interval but his shot hit the side netting.
The second period continued in much the same vein with plenty of effort and hard work from both sides with the respective back fours holding firm though Bedford had to make a good save from a point-blank Bridges' shot on 54 minutes.
Sporting brought on substitutes Sean Brain and Chrisi Conway to give them a bit more firepower up front and Conway was in action pretty quickly getting behind the Southam defence but his eventual shot went well wide of the right-hand post.
With Sporting edging the play, it was a bit of a surprise when Southam again took the lead on the 74th minute after a fast break up field, Thomas found himself in a good position on the edge of the Rouslers' box and fired home a screamer from 25 yards giving the diving Bedford no chance.
The Bromsgrove response was quick getting back on level terms just a couple of minutes later as Williams hooked a ball into the box which found Wills who turned and fired low into the corner of Cross' net.
Southam's use of the offside trap was looking increasingly risky. McKenzie was caught a couple of times but got past on 77 minutes only for his shot to be saved but moments later the long-limbed striker found himself in a much better position and after waiting for Cross to commit himself, slid a well-placed shot under the advancing 'keeper to give Sporting the lead from 15 yards out.
The Bromsgrove side had another couple of chances to increase their lead but found Ross in good form. However, the final word might have gone to Southam as substitute Stefan Grudzinski beat Bedford and grazed the right-hand post on the 90th minute.
Referee Mr Postin played just 4 minutes of adding time before finishing the game and allowing Sporting to collect their second trophy in five days.
Southam: Tom Cross, Jack Brighton, Lee Thomas, Myles Jones, Matty Hunt, Max Crisp (Stefan Grudzinski 86 mins), Chris Bright (Andy Yeates 75 mins), James Hardie, Tunde Ajibade, Louis Bridges (Capt, Suki Hijjar 65 mins), Callum Yeates
Subs not used: Quentin Townsend, James Keller
Scorers: Louis Bridges (10 mins, penalty), Lee Thomas (74 mins)
Cards: None
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Danny Morris, Jack Wilson, Aaron Williams (69 mins), Craig Jones, Scott Smith (Capt.), Will Tibbetts (Sean Brain 62 mins), Sam Wills, Reece Hewitt, Josh McKenzie (Jozsef Jakab 89 mins), Sam Wills, Joe Adams (Chrisi Conway 62 mins).
Subs not used: Chris Duggan, Sam Delaney.
Scorers: Reece Hewitt (19 mins), Sam Wills (76 mins), Josh McKenzie (78 mins)
Cards: Danny Morris (83)
Referee Mr S Postin (Coventry)
Assistants: Mr P Rodway (Rubery), Mr A Jeffrey (Sutton Coldfield).
4th Official: Mr T Reeves (Coventry)
Crowd: 550
Weather: Cool, Breezy.
Sporting Man of the Match: Reece Hewitt
SAINTS EDGED OUT IN FIVE GOAL THRILLER
by David Hucker
Saints narrowly missed out as Bromsgrove Sporting lifted the Midland Football League Les James Challenge Cup with a late winner at the Banks's Stadium
SAINTS EDGED OUT IN FIVE GOAL THRILLER
Saints' journey to the final had started back in October with a win over Studley, which was followed by victories against Pershore Town, Heather St Johns and Littleton. In all, they had scored 16 goals, of which leading scorer Louis Bridges had contributed six.
The meetings between the two clubs in this season's league fixtures had resulted in honours even, with Sporting winning 7-0 at the Victoria Ground in December on an evening when nothing went right for the visitors and Saints gaining revenge for that heavy defeat with a 2-1 victory at home in March.
However, Sporting had fared the better of the two teams over the course of the season, finishing runners-up to Highgate United and topping the scoring charts with 121 goals. They completed their programme with a 6-1 win over Nuneaton Griff, so the size of the task facing Saints was clear from the off.
Manager Quentin Townsend was without the injured Tom Cooper, as well as the ineligible Adam Guest and Kevin Spencer, but was still able to name a strong line-up with Bridges, who had scored 36 goals in league and cup, as captain.
The first chance fell to Sporting, but Joshua McKenzie shot wide before Saints took the lead after just ten minutes from the penalty spot through Bridges after a handball in the area.
But, Sporting were back on level terms in the 19th minute as Reece Hewitt latched onto a rebound off a Saints defender to slot past Tom Cross. They nearly doubled up three minutes later when breaking from defence following a Saints corner and it took a good stop from Cross to deny them again in the 28th.
Two more corners for Saints came to nothing before, with a minute of the half remaining, Max Crisp put a good chance into the side netting.
Half time: Southam United 1 Bromsgrove Sporting 1
Saints opened up well in the second half, with Chris Bright shooting over the bar after a free kick was half cleared by keeper Jake Bedford and then a good move involving Lee Thomas and Crisp saw Bridges through, but his shot lacked real power.
Christopher Conway became Sporting's first substitution just after the hour, replacing Joe Adams, before Saints were forced to make a change shortly after when Suki Nijjar took over from the limping Bridges, with the captain's armband passing to Cross.
A superb shot into the top corner by Thomas put Saints back in front in the 74th minute, after a good exchange of passing with Bright, but the lead was short-lived as Sporting were back level when the defence failed to clear a free kick and Sam Wills fired home.
With the action end to end, Cross saved at the near post from McKenzie before Sporting went ahead for the first time in the match in the 79th. The ball was lobbed over the defence and McKenzie ran through to beat Cross low down.
Another chance went begging for Sporting and then Conway beat Cross, only for Matty Hunt to clear off the line. Saints almost squared it on the stroke of full time, but substitute Stefan Grudzinksi's shot came back off the post.
Southam United: Tom Cross, Jack Brighton, Lee Thomas, Myles Jones, Matty Hunt, Max Crisp (Stefan Grudzinski 85), Chris Bright (anfdy Yeates 76), James Hardie, Tunde Ajibade, Louis Bridges [Capt] (Suki Nijjar 62), Calum Yeates
Subs not used: Quentin Townsend, James Keller
Bromsgrove Sporting (4-4-2): Jake Bedford, Jack Wilson, Craig Jones, Scott Smith, Daniel Morris, Reece Hewitt, Aaron Williams, Joe Adams (Christopher Conway 61) Will Tibbetts (Sean Brain 62), Sam Wills Joshua McKenzie (Jozsef Jakab 89)
Subs not used: Samual Delaney, Christopher Duggan
Match officials: Referee Scott Postin, Assistants Paul Rodway and Adam Jeffrey, Fourth official Tom Reeves
Attn: 550
Player of the match: James Hardie
