Bromsgrove Sporting 3, Pelsall Villa 1

A TUMULTUOUS second half saw Bromsgrove Sporting run out winners against Pelsall Villa in the Midland Football League Division One on Saturday afternoon, writes Max Banner.

After going a goal down to an effort that came with a large slice of luck, goals from substitutes Connor Collins and Josh McKenzie plus a bullet header from defender Aaron Roberts in between, saw the home side gain a much needed success after two disappointing cup exits beforehand.

It could have been very different, were it not for Pelsall’s Carl Morris ballooning a late penalty over the bar, with the scoreline at 2-1.

Sporting started brightly enough, dominating the majority of the play with Luke Dugmore and Dale Edwards orchestrating proceedings in the middle of the park.

Efforts from Dugmore, Sam Wills and Reece Hewitt within the first 25 minutes failed to find the net and early on.

It was though the visitors who broke the deadlock, when Craig Phillips’ misplaced cross flew over keeper Josh Moreton, onto the post and into the net.

The second half saw more missed chances from the Rouslers, as headers from Craig Jones and Collins fell short of the mark. In fact, it was Pelsall who almost got the second, as Dan Aldred and Spencer Blackham were both denied by a superb double save from Moreton.

Sporting finally got the deserved equaliser 15 minutes from the end, when Collins dispatched the ball into the goal with consummate ease.

Three minutes later, Sporting gained the upper hand as Roberts got onto the end of Wills’ accurate corner and headed home powerfully.

The away side had chances to get back into the game, the first of which being a goal ruled out for offside with five minutes left.

The second was a penalty, after Simon Fitter was adjudged to have committed a foul following a misplaced pass from Sporting captain Brendan Kelly.

The resultant spot kick was blazed over the bar, with Morris’ effort more effort more befitting of Twickenham than the Victoria Ground.

The three points were sealed after McKenzie followed up on his well-saved shot with a thumping volley into the net.

SPORTING: Moreton, Roberts, Kelly, Fitter, Jones, McKeon (McKenzie, 46), Dugmore (Spink, 56), Hewitt, Brain (Collins, 56), Wills, Edwards. Subs not used: Wilson, Delaney.

Pelsall: Mikrut, Gnadga, Holmes (Dean, 76), Walker, Mellors, Murray, Morris, Aldred (Knight, 80), Blackham, Williams, Phillips. Subs not used: Melia, Wood, Phillips.

Referee: Mr K Dolphin (Birmingham) Attendance: 267 Sporting MoM: Dale Edwards