Bromsgrove Sporting 0 v 2 Pershore Town: Match Report

Midland Combination Premier Division Football Match Report

Bromsgrove Sporting 0-2 Pershore Town

30/03/2013

Reported by Conor Rees

Bromsgrove Sporting drop another three points after their 2-0 defeat to Pershore Town in a very poor performance for the home side. 

Bromsgrove didn’t appear to turn up in the first half with the majority of the pressure coming from the visitors.

Pershore’s first goal came before they even created a good effort on goal thanks to a Sporting howler in the 17^th minute. Former Sporting player Chris Bright lofted a ball towards the edge of the box for Pershore. There then appeared to be a mix up between a Bromsgrove defender and goal keeper Reece Francis on the edge of the box. Neither player touched the ball and then the ball nutmeged the Sporting goal keeper and rolled straight into the goal to give Pershore the lead.

Pershore kept up the pressure with a string of chances from Scott Finnegan and Chris Bright. Their best came when a ball was laid off to Scott Finnegan who then struck the ball just wide of the goalkeepers top left hand corner.

Bromsgrove responded poor after the goal and failed to hit the target in the first half. They did come out a stronger side in the second half though after two changes at the break.

But it was Pershore who created the first chance in the second half. The Sporting captain, Matt Ross, denied an almost certain goal when Pershore’s Dane Aldington’s powerful strike on goal was cleared off the line.

Bromsgrove started to play a lot better and looked like they wanted that equaliser. A Matt Ross header, early into the second half, tested the Pershore goalkeeper Matt Davis and then moments later a Keith Draper shot was just deflected wide after a home free kick.

The away side continued to mount the pressure and before long they had their second. Chris Bright, on the near edge of the box, fired a low pass into the feet of Phil Marsh. He then side footed the ball into the net to give Pershore a 2-0 lead.

Keith Draper had a few more attempts on goal including a chip that almost caught the Pershore goalkeeper of his line.

Bromsgrove came extremely close to pulling a goal back. Andy Nicol received the ball from a back heel then beat the last Pershore defender. His shot was struck towards the goalkeeper’s bottom left hand corner and brought a good save out of Matt Davis.

Bromsgrove failed to create any further strong efforts on goal and their frustration was easily seen in the final periods. A Pershore player went down injured and whilst receiving treatment on the near touchline Aaron Roberts picked up the player and pushed him of the pitch in frustration. He was then sent off after receiving his second yellow card. Joint manager Graham Scott was also sent to the stands moments later by the referee.

That was the last event in the match and Pershore left the Victoria ground with all three points.

Bromsgrove Sporting still remain second but with only four games to go and with all of the teams around them still having many games in hand it looks near impossible that Bromsgrove Sporting will gain promotion this season.

Also following the match manager Keith Draper resigned as manager after 16 months in charge. Keith Draper said after his resignation: "It has been a pleasure to be the manager of Sporting over the last 16 months but over the last few weeks the desire and drive has not been there and it would be unfair on the players and the fans of the club for me to continue whilst in this frame of mind." I wish Keith all the best of luck where ever he decides to go next and thank him for his time at Bromsgrove Sporting, you will be missed.

Attendance: 242

Bromsgrove:- Reece Francis ,Aaron Roberts, Gareth Davies, Nick Harris, Matt Ross, Chris Gleadow, Lee Dunkley, Keith Draper, Elliot Nash, Jonathon Rogers, Andy Nicol  (Sub) Jamie Parker, Ryan Gardiner, James Turk (46), Bradley Whitehouse (84), Jovan Blake-Walker (46).

Pershore:- Matt Davis, Danny Janes, Steve Webb, Quentin Townsend, Craig Selby, Scott Finnegan, Ben Hayes, Dane Aldington, Phil Marsh, Matt Tyler, Chris Bright (Sub) Lewis Critcher (87), Jake Saunders, Ross Selby, Richard Congrave (83), Matt Oliver (73).