PAUL Smith insists his Bromsgrove Sporting players are ‘under no illusions’ despite securing a 2-0 win against Bottesford Town in FA Cup Second Round Qualifying.
Goals from Jamie Meddows and Harry Crook either side of half time at the Victoria Ground, the second coming from the penalty spot, sealed Sporting’s place in the next round.
However, Smith believes there is work to do following a below-par performance against the Northern Counties East Premier Division side who reached Second Round Qualifying for the first time in their history.
Smith said: “We’re in the hat, that’s about as good as it gets, we lacked effort and energy, we made a lot of changes.
“A lot of players have been knocking on my door asking for game time, it was an opportunity to mix things up.
“It didn’t go or flow as well as it should have, there should be a lot of disappointed boys in the dressing room.
“That said, it’s cup football and it’s the result that matters but the boys are under no illusions, there’s a lot of work to do.
“We’ve come through two rounds now, we can look forward to the next one and there’s a few pound in the coffers for the club as well.”
Sporting almost broke the deadlock when Ryan Snape’s free-kick hit the crossbar before Theo Robinson shot wide from inside the box.
However, Step Five Bottesford, who play two levels below Sporting, won a penalty on 33 minutes only for Charlie Price to keep out Aris Cunha’s spot kick after the former fouled the latter in the box.
The Rouslers made the most of that reprieve to take the lead four minutes later when Meddows finished from close range after good work from Snape.
Bottesford went close to an equaliser on the stroke of half time as Price produced a stunning save to keep out a header with Cody Collins’ follow-up ruled out for offside.
Sporting substitute Crook clinched the home side’s place in Third Round Qualifying when he scored from the penalty spot on 77 minutes after he was fouled by Bottesford goalkeeper Graeme Anderson.
Bottesford almost grabbed a consolation goal at the death as James Playford sent a free-kick from distance inches past the post.
Bromsgrove are next in action against St Ives Town on Saturday, September 21 with kick-off at 3pm at the Victoria Ground.
