PAUL Smith admitted it was a ‘brilliant’ start for his side after Bromsgrove Sporting began the season with a 3-1 victory at Hitchin Town.
Goals from debutants Shay Palmer, Jamie Meddows and Charlie Wragg ensured Smith marked his second stint in charge of Sporting with a win at Top Field
And Smith praised Sporting’s work rate which he feels will be key in determining where the Rouslers finish at the end of the campaign.
Smith said: “It’s brilliant, it’s a long trip, I thought we were great, we played really well, we went one-nil up and had another good couple of chances.
“We made a mistake for their goal but bar that we defended brilliantly and showed some character to go and get the second goal.
“We controlled the game after that really well and got the third which was fully deserved.
“It’s a fantastic start for all three of the goalscorers, they were brilliant, it’s a great first game for us.
“The work rate [pleased me] we’re not the best side in this division by a mile but we’ve got heart, desire and strength.
“It’s important we work harder than the opposition and we did that in bucket loads and we added some flair to that.
“We need to work on our concentration a little bit but apart from that it’s a really pleasing first game.”
Sporting took the lead on 17 minutes when Palmer headed home Meddows’ corner from the right at the near post.
However, Hitchin equalised seven minutes later as Rio Deall applied the finish following a well-executed counter attack.
The Rouslers reclaimed the lead in first-half injury time as Meddows controlled Walsall-loanee Wragg’s pass before clinically firing the ball into the right corner of the goal.
And Sporting sealed the points nine minutes from time when Wragg beat three defenders before coolly picking out the bottom left corner.
Bromsgrove are next in action at home to Stratford Town on Tuesday, August 13 with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Victoria Ground.
