Report sourced by Max Banner
GOALS from Demetri Brown and Nathan Hayward secured a 2-0 win for Bromsgrove Sporting against Stourbridge in the Southern League Challenge Cup – condemning former captain and now Stour manager Leon Boradhurst to defeat.
Brown opened the scoring after 13 minutes with a cool finish from 10-yards out before Hayward scored his second goal in as many matches to complete the win on 75 minutes.
Victory for Sporting inflicted a first defeat on new Stourbridge boss Broadhurst – who departed Bromsgrove last month to take the managerial gig at the War Memorial Athletic Ground.
It also means the Rouslers have won both of their matches under the interim management team of Graham Scott and Gavin Hurren having beaten Ilkeston Town by the same scoreline in the FA Trophy last weekend.
And Sporting picked up where they left off on Tuesday night when a long throw from the left was flicked on at the near post by Cameron Ebbutt and into the path of Brown who finished first time past Stour keeper Lewis Solly.
New Bromsgrove captain Joel Kettle – appointed to the role following Broadhurst’s departure – then had a powerful header saved by Solly from Ebbutt’s long free-kick into the box.
From the resulting corner, Connor Taylor’s downwards header at the near post was tipped onto the bar by Solly before the ball was scrambled behind to safety.
The visitors first real chance of the game came down the right-hand channel when Akos Onodi produced a fine save to deny Tyler Smith from just inside the penalty area.
Sporting were soon back on the front foot when Miro Pais broke free down the right before passing inside to Josh Dugmore whose low effort was saved by Solly.
Stourbridge improved after the break with Onodi making a routine save from James McQuilkin’s free-kick from distance before Ethan Moran curled wide when well-placed in the box.
And the away side were made to pay for those missed chances when Sporting doubled their lead through Hayward with 15 minutes left to play.
Dugmore won back possession before releasing Brown who crossed to Ebbutt at the back post only for the forward to lose his balance and play a pass whilst on the ground into the path of Hayward who applied the finish.
Pais curled one final effort over as Bromsgrove secured their place in the third round of the competition with ease at the Victoria Ground and have now secured back-to-back victories since former boss Brendan Kelly departed the club last month.
Next up for Sporting is a trip to Nuneaton Borough in the league on Saturday, November 6 with kick-off at Liberty Way at 3pm.
