Sunday was a brilliant day at the Victoria Ground, as our Ladies team secured the Midwest Counties Female Football League title and ensured they would finish their league season unbeaten after easily beating nearest rivals Malvern Town 5-0.
Sporting went into the game needing just one point to win the league title, but would go onto win the match comprehensively, finishing their league season with an incredible 13 wins and 1 draw.
Sporting’s supporters turned out in their numbers, with an attendance of over 200, including Bromsgrove District Council Chairperson Sam Ammar (pictured below). Leading the ladies onto the field were our U9 Girls as mascots, along with some squad team members.
The Ladies will return the favour to the U9s, by attending their game this Saturday.
In terms of the league, the Ladies now await a date for their play-off semi final. This semi final will see them face the second place team in Division Two (the level below). The winner of that game will face either the Division One runners up (Malvern Town) or the winners of Division Two.
The ladies would love to see your continued support at their upcoming games, starting with their League Cup quarter final vs Redditch Borough Development on 21st April at the Victoria Ground.
A delighted Alan Horton, Ladies Team manager, commented: “Sporting Ladies were only formed four years ago and we lost one season through COVID. We have finished fourth in each of our full seasons previously, but this season we have taken the league by storm, going unbeaten and only conceding six goals all year. We also have a league cup quarter final this Sunday.
“I’m extremely proud of all the players and coaches – no matter how small a part they have played. This season, our ladies are the INVINCIBLES and it’s well deserved. I can’t tell you how much this means.”
The Match Report
Malvern started the game looking to control possession, but Sporting gave them no time to get into any rhythm. Bromsgrove created the first chance of the game when Vicky Grady drove inside from the right-hand side and slid in Beth Breen, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner on four minutes.
Sporting kicked on from their opening goal, dominating possession and the tempo of the match. They built on their advantage in the 17th minute, when debutant Katie Ellis played a great through-ball to Sophie Taylor, who drilled home past the advancing goalkeeper.
The away side had their only shot of the game in the 35th minute, when a Malvern winger tried her luck from near the halfway line – keeper Rosie Parslow watched the ball carefully and easily collected this effort.
As the first half progressed, Sporting created plenty of chances, but these were denied by the Malvern keeper. In the 40th minute, Amy Kendall played a ball over the top to Heather Rigby. who drove down the left side. Her shot which was turned in by Taylor once again, to make the scoreline 3-0 before half-time.
Half Time: Sporting 3-0 Malvern.
Needing to come out and overturn the deficit, Malvern tried to start the second half brightly but were quickly pushed back by a solid Bromsgrove defence, who have only conceded six goals in the duration of the season. This then allowed Sporting to again control possession and create more chances. Bromsgrove added to their goal tally in the 81st minute, when Nat Sabin passed the ball to Breen, who rolled her defender and rifled the ball into the top right corner.
The scoring was finished off in the 90th minute, when some great work by Ellie Nash on the right allowed her to get to the byline and cut the ball to an advancing Laura Shanley, who fired home into the back of the net.
Full Time: Sporting 5-0 Malvern
