BROMSGROVE Sporting suffered a heavy 4-0 home defeat against title-chasing Coalville Town as the Rouslers finished the game with 10-men following Ammar Dyer’s second-half red card.
On an afternoon to forget for Mike McGrath’s men, Sporting lost Callum King-Harmes to a serious injury in the warm-up before Ayo Lekuti put through his own net early on.
And Thomas McGlinchey struck twice before the break as substitute Tendai Chitiza completed the scoring in the final minute after Dyer was sent off with 20 minutes left to play at the Victoria Ground.
The result means the Rouslers sit 13th in the Southern League Premier Central table, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
A tough afternoon for Sporting started in the worst possible fashion when King-Harmes sustained a serious knee injury during the warm-up with the emergency services called which meant a delay to the kick-off time.
However, despite initial fears that King-Harmes had suffered a fracture, it was confirmed that the midfielder had in fact sustained ligament damage which is likely to keep him out for a few months.
On the pitch, Sporting fell behind on seven minutes when Lekuti inadvertently deflected Luke Shaw’s shot past Ollie Taylor in the Rouslers goal.
McGrath’s side went close to a leveller when Jack Tolley was denied by Coalville goalkeeper Paul White only for McGlinchey to double Town’s lead on 18 minutes when he finished at the second attempt after his initial shot came back of the post.
And Coalville put the game to bed on 42 minutes when McGlinchey slotted home from Tim Berridge’s pass.
Sporting improved after the break as Brandon Smalley’s free-kick forced White into a good save before Dyer was shown a straight red card for a strong challenge as Bromsgrove’s frustration boiled over.
The visitors made the most of the man advantage to complete the scoring in the final minute as Chitiza headed in Eliot Putman’s cross to round off a miserable afternoon for the Rouslers.
Sporting are next in action away at Leiston on Saturday, March 18 with kick-off at 3pm at Victory Road.
