"Hendry smash and grab baffles Police"
Bromsgrove Sporting gained their first away win in the league with an emphatic victory at Tally Ho against West Midlands Police with debut starter Rob Hendry scoring four of the team's six goals.
Sporting started brightly and Hendry worked a chance after 8 minutes but was foiled by a diving save at his feet from Police keeper, Dalglish,. Dan Wilkes then had a golden opportunity as he was released in the left channel with only the keeper to beat but squared the ball instead of shooting and a defender managed to nip in before Jon Rogers could put the chance away.
Hendry's first goal came on 15 minutes as he was able to draw the keeper before slotting home when put through. Three minutes later it was 2-0 as the unselfish Molesworth again beat the static Police defence and squared for Hendry to roll the ball in. Sporting continued to threaten and a poor first touch from Jon Rogers in the box gave Dalglish the opportunity to save at his feet.
The next goal came for the Police side from their first shot on goal as S Windle side footed home from 20 yards as Sporting keeper Biddle was caught flat footed. The Police then tried hard to get back into the game but Sporting continued to create chances.
On 38 minutes, Sporting thought they had a penalty as Jon Rogers was clearly pulled back in the box and the ball was cleared for a corner. However, justice was done as from the corner Nick Allen was bundled over and after consulting his assistant, the referee gave a penalty which Joe Brookes placed hard and low in the bottom corner.
Half-time West Midlands Police 1 v 3 Bromsgrove Sporting
The Police side had reshuffled before half-time bringing left back Gray on for midfielder Jon Windle but the penalty and the first 5 minutes of the second half only served to cement Sporting's dominance against the Police backline.
Only a minuite into the half, Dan Wilkes was fouled down the left wing and as the resulting free kick came into the box Nick Allen appeared to get a push which only helped him to bundle the ball into the net off his body. On 47 minutes, Sporting gained another penalty as Molesworth broke down the right and was tackled by Police Captain, Hodge unfairly in the opinion of the referee who was somewhat behind play. This time Hendry took the spot kick and completed his hat-trick.
Three minutes later, the scoring was complete as Jon Rogers laid the ball across the area for Hendry to tap in his fourth goal to make the scoreline 6 - 1. Sporting then relaxed and despite creating a number of chances were unable to beat Dalglish again as the keeper made a couple of spectacular saves. Even the referee appeared to take pity on the Police side as claims for more penalties for what looked to be clear fouls on Bright and Molesworth were waved away by the Official.
As Sporting relaxed the Police did create a couple of chances but became frustrated as first Hodge and then substitute Kerr were booked for late fouls on keeper Biddle and midfielder Curry respectively. Kerr was lucky to remain on the pitch as he seemed to lose his head and made an even worse tackle on Gareth Rogers but the referee, after appearing to go to his pocket for a card, let the offender off with a final warning.
In the last two minutes, Chris Bright missed the target by inches and keeper Dalglish saved well again, this time from a Cooksey header as Sporting looked to add to the total. Eventually, time ran out and the referee was able to put an end to the game before Sporting were able to inflict more damage on the beleaguered Police team.
Sporting team: Biddle, Bright, Harris (Rogers G 72), Allen (Cooksey 72), Brookes, Curry, Molesworth, Rogers Ja (Cpt), Hendry, Rogers Jon, Wilkes (Blood 64) Subs not used: Griffiths, Whitehouse.
West Midlands Police team: Dalglish, Mullis, Hodge (Cpt), Lewis, Roobotham, Holliday, Windle S, Windle J (Gray 38), Shannon (Kerr 57), Jarratt, Nurse. Subs not used: Hitchmough, Parker
Sporting Man of the Match: Rob Hendry
WMPFC came crashing back down to Earth today, suffering a heavy defeat to Division 1 title contenders Bromsgrove Sporting. With the Police missing three key players from the side that has won the last five games, today was always going to be a tough test without Adams, Mitchell and September player of the month Paul Brogan. Sporting arrived with a large away support and amongst their ranks was ex-Police midfielder Joe Brookes.
Sporting stated the game on fire and came at the Police with the full force of their attack. They created chance after chance to test Dalglish in the Police goal. WMPFC were on the rack and with last ditch challenges by Roobottom and Dalglish making save after save, a Sporting goal was only a matter of time. The break through came on 14 minutes when a searching through ball down the right channel, found the excellent bending run of the Sporting striker who then squared the ball to his strike partner in the box. He opened his body up and curled the ball past Dalglish, in off the post and in. The Police stopper was called into action 2 minutes later when the Sporting centre half was allowed to carry the ball for 30 yards and he unleashed a long range shot that was well saved. Sporting doubled their lead minutes later when Jarratt and Lewis were out by the speedy winger who nipped in to steal the ball, who again squared for the striker to finish.
The Police pulled a goal back to provide a glimmer of hope and against the run of play. Debutant Lawrence Shannon broke up the play and won the ball in the middle of the park. He played in Steve Windle who calmly picked his spot from the edge of the box and slotted home.
Despite this way back into the game, Sporting again came at the Police and minutes later Hodge was caught too deep and played the striker on side who then shot from the edge of the box. It was well saved by Dalglish and then desperately headed clear and over the bar by Roobottom.
A minute before the half time break the referee seemed to want to take part in the action and give the large Sporting crowd more to cheer about. Matt Lewis managed to get to the ball first and was up ended by the Sporting striker, who also tumbled in the challenge. To the shock of everyone on the pitch and in the ground, the referee saw it as a foul and awarded a penalty to Sporting. The returning Joe Brookes stepped up and powered home.
With the stuffing knocked out of us at half time, WMPFC made a disastrous start to the second half, conceding three goals in five minutes. Dalglish misjudging a long free kick, Hodge giving away a penalty and Roobottom being turned inside out, all lead to Sporting goals, who were displaying excellent level of finishing.
Police gave a more spirited performance in the last half an hour and created chances but Holliday's chip narrowly went over the bar and Steve Windle saw his chance saved well by the keeper. James Kerr was a late sub for his debut and tried to stamp his mark on the game. His eagerness proved a bit too aggressive for the referee who booked him for a late challenge and he was lucky not to have seen red in the final stages for another late challenge. Hodge also picked up a caution for kicking out as the frustrations of the heavy defeat started to get the better of the Police players.
The end of our unbeaten run and now Police shift our focus to Saturdays Birmingham Vase visit of Division 2 leaders Aston FC
