Bromsgrove Sporting 3, Dudley Sports 1

BROMSGROVE Sporting ignited hopes of a possible cup run on Saturday afternoon, as they eased to a 3-1 win over Dudley Sports in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase, writes Max Banner.

An early goal from Connor Collins settled any nerves the home side may have had, with Sam Wills doubling the Rouslers’ tally after half an hour with a close range effort.

A penalty for Dudley, which was dispatched by Stuart Hillman, gave the visitors a glimmer of hope inside the last five minutes, but a goal from substitute Sean Brain, with the last kick of the game, secured the victory for Sporting.

From the offset, Bromsgrove were playing with flair and panache, with sharp passing amongst the midfield and attackers prevalent.

It was one of these, new signing Collins, who opened the scoring after ten minutes. He curled his left footed effort into the bottom corner in style, although goalkeeper Samuel Pearson would have been annoyed that the palm he got to it could not divert the ball wide.

Simon Fitter had the first of his many chances on the 18th minute mark when his shot from long-range was comfortably saved by Pearson.

But Sporting would not have to wait much longer to extend their lead, Wills’ run into the box left him one on one with the keeper, the resultant shot calmly placed into the net.

Fitter had four free-kicks either side of the half-time whistle and the closest he came to a goal came eight minutes into the second half, when his sumptuously struck free-kick pinged off the crossbar and to safety.

Liam Spink missed an inviting opportunity 15 minutes from the end before Luke Williams saw his opportunistic effort for visitors tipped over by Sporting’s latest shot-stopper Josh Moreton.

The spot-kick came for Dudley after Craig Jones committed a foul and Hillman’s strike providing Sporting with a nervy last few moments.

But Brain’s settled any nerves when he took the ball around Pearson and found an open goal at his mercy.

SPORTING: Moreton, Roberts, Kelly, Fitter, Jones, McKeon, Spink, Hewitt, Collins (Richards, 69), Wills (Brain, 69), Dugmore (Edwards, 80).

Suns not used: Delaney, Gibson.

DUDLEY: Pearson, Taylor (Chambers, 72), Hanson, Parker, Walters, Williams, Muckley (Antwi, 93), Watkins, Machingauta, Hillman, Gordon.

Suns not used: Powell, Whitcombe.

Referee: M Malone (Stafford) Attendance: 267.

Sporting MoM: Simon Fitter