FOOTBALL
Bromsgrove Sporting 2 Hinckley AFC 1
Midland League Division One
Report by Max Banner
SO MUCH about football is about being in the right place at the right time. Just ask Kyle Turner.
Having been introduced as a 62nd-minute substitute, the Bromsgrove Sporting player turned around his side’s fortunes with two goals from inside the six-yard box to defeat bogey side Hinckley.
“I came on at the right time and just had to score those chances really,” said Turner modestly.
It was a thoroughly deserved three points for Paul Smith’s men, as they bid to keep up their pursuit of leaders Coventry United.
The early stages saw Bromsgrove have the majority of the play but strong winds were certainly not making for many clear-cut chances, the best of which were tame shots from Connor Collins and Sean Brain.
Hinckley, had completed a 6-2 FA Cup demolition job on Sporting in August, had the first real opportunity, as Ryan Seal’s 16th-minute corner was taken by the wind towards goal, only for the crossbar to come to keeper Chris Jay’s mercy.
But the visitors were ahead on 37 when Seal’s pinpoint cross found the head of Javier Roberts, who dispatched his effort into the corner with authority.
Sporting almost levelled the scoring in the final moments of the half, as Nathan Walker, who has only recently signed from Hinckley, laid the ball off nicely for Collins, but his powerful effort was well saved by Tom Cross.
Following the break, the home side continued to dominate proceedings but Craig Jones and Sam Wills both wasted chances.
They were not be denied, however, and they were level in the 64th minute when Turner had the easiest of tap-ins after getting onto the end of a low cross from the lively Reece Hewitt.
Turner’s second came six minutes later, as a sumptuous corner from Wills was glanced home at the front post.
Wills himself had a chance to extend the lead on the 77th minute, with his 20-yard free kick beating keeper Cross but hitting the upright.
The final ten minutes saw real backs-to-the-wall stuff for Sporting but resolute defending prevented efforts from Roberts and Luke Richards going in.
Sporting: Jay, Spink, Wilson, Walker, Jones (Capt), Kelly, Brain (Turner 62 mins), Hewitt, Collins (Corbett 81 mins), Wills, Edwards (Hanks 62 mins). Subs not used: Nwosu, Horton.
