Report sourced by Max Banner
GOALS from Joel Kettle and Nathan Hayward ensured Bromsgrove Sporting began the post Brendan Kelly era with an impressive 2-0 win against Ilkeston Town in the FA Trophy.
Kettle’s powerful header put Sporting ahead shortly before half-time with Hayward scoring a header of his own early in the second period to secure the Rouslers safe passage into the next round.
Defender Kettle was sent off for a professional foul in the closing stages but Bromsgrove held on to secure a fine victory at the Victoria Ground and advance to the first round proper.
The win also brought an end to Sporting’s run of five consecutive defeats as the interim management team of Graham Scott and Gavin Hurren made the perfect start to life in the Rouslers dugout.
And Bromsgrove started brightly when Miro Pais turned and fired goalwards from the edge of the penalty area only to be denied by Ilkeston keeper Bradley Foster who tipped the ball over the bar.
Sporting keeper Akos Onodi then made a comfortable stop from Ollie Brown-Hill’s tame effort before Kettle powered Bromsgrove into the lead.
Cameron Ebbutt’s dangerous free-kick from the left was met by Kettle who guided a header into the net from six-yards out at the back post on 37 minutes.
And Sporting doubled their lead in the 50th minute when a corner from the right was worked to Pais in a central area who crossed for Hayward to head magnificently into the far corner.
Kettle was given his marching orders on 74 minutes when he tripped substitute Jak Goodson after he was played in-behind the Sporting defence.
And Goodson would be denied a goal shortly after when he raced in-behind the Bromsgrove defence once again only to be kept out by a wonderful save by Onodi when one-on-one.
Ilkeston sent a late glancing header wide of the post as Bromsgrove held on to claim a morale boosting win against the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands side.
Bromsgrove will now wait to find out their opponents in the first round proper with the draw set to be published at 1pm today.
First round ties are scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 13 with winning clubs receiving £3,000 and losing sides getting £775.
Sporting are back in action on Tuesday, November 2 when they host Stourbridge in the second round of the Southern League Challenge Cup with kick-off at 7:45pm at the Victoria Ground.
