Pelsall Villa 1 (1) Bromsgrove Sporting 5 (2) at The Bush Ground

To quote a much-used cliché, this was very much a game of two halves for Sporting who looked to be having problems getting going in the first half but ending up deserved and convincing winners of this match in the second half.

Playing downhill and in heavy rain, the Bromsgrove outfit had the better of the play in the opening stages but apart from a low drive on the 4th minute from Nathan Walker that the 'keeper Matt Hill saved with his knees, they hardly threatened the home defence.

Pelsall meanwhile relied on clearances up field but seldom committed enough players to challenge the Sporting back line. Then on the 12th minute, Luke Edwards attempted a back pass to Chris Jay but the ball got stuck in the long wet grass allowing Osiris Robertson to intercept, round Jay and slot home from 15 yards out to give the home team the lead.

Cue for The Rouslers to wake up who then laid siege on the Pelsall goal but poor finishing and a couple of good saves from Hill kept the scoreline with the home side in front.

However, Sporting finally got the equaliser on the 42 minute when Jack Wilson make a cross-field pass to Robbie Bunn, who laid back to Nathan Walker allowing the midfielder to hit home a low drive into the right-hand corner.

Getting on to the score sheet seemed to give Sporting a bit more of a spring in their steps and they took the lead just before the half-time whistle when newcomer Jason Cowley's half volley went in off a Pelsall defenders boot.

Three minutes after the interval Walker got behind the home back four putting in a neat cross that Hill attempted to catch but it went through his arms to give Sporting their third.

The away side kept up the pressure and with 69 minutes on the clock, Nathan Walker's shot was parried by Hill to Tony Clark who passed across the face of the goal to captain Craig Jones who delivered the fourth of the afternoon with a simple tap in.

Four minutes later Robbie Bunn put the match well beyond their hosts with an effort to rival that of Dimitri Payet for West Ham United at the Olympic Stadium on the same afternoon when he rounded four defenders before firing a low shot just beyond Hill's outstretched right arm.

Chris Lloyd and Chrisi Conway came on as substitutes but despite maintaining the pressure on their opponents failed to increase the score line.

So again, not a top drawer performance for Sporting particularly in the first period but they upped their game when it mattered and comfortably secured maximum points to keep them in second place, three points behind Lichfield City but with couple of games in hand.

Pelsall: Matt Hill, Joe Ryder, Callum Phillips (Seam Westley 78 mins), Josh Small, Luke Farley (Capt), Shane Holmes (Michael Murray 59 mins), Liam Matthews, Todd Sherwood, Osiris Robertson (Will Osbourne 66 mins), Dan Scragg, Nathan Stone.

Unused substitutes: Dan Battison Goal: Osiris Robertson (12 mins) Yellows: Liam Matthews (45+3 mins), Michael Murray (80 mins).

Sporting: Chris Jay, Brendan Kelly, Jack Wilson, Nathan Walker, Craig Jones, Luke Edwards, Ahmed Ali, Robbie Bunn, Tony Clarke (Chris Lloyd 71 mins), Jason Cowley (Chrisi Conway 71 mins), Keenan Meakin-Richards (Sam Wills 57 mins).

Scorers: Nathan Walker (42, 49 mins), Jason Cowley (45+4 mins), Craig Jones (66 mins), Robbie Bunn (69 mins).

Subs not used: Lucky Nwosu, James Clayton.

Yellow: Sam Wills (68 mins) Referee: Mr P Woodfield (Birmingham) Assistants: Mr W Crook (Birmingham), Mr B Bayton-Harvey (Birmingham) Weather: Showers, cool.

Crowd: 134 Sporting MoM: Robbie Bunn Reporter: Phil Baker