Stourport Swifts 2
Bromsgrove Sporting 2
(Sporting won 6-5 on penalties)
Worcestershire Senior Urn, Semi-final
BROMSGROVE Sporting got rid of any FA Vase hangover on Tuesday night by booking their place in the final of the Worcestershire Senior Urn.
It was far from straightforward, however, as they twice fell behind at Walshes Meadow but Sean Brain and Robbie Bunn levelled matters.
Then Paul Smith’s men, the cup holders, progressed to a final clash against Lye Town at Kidderminster Harriers on Thursday, April 24 after winning a sudden-death penalty shoot-out when Stourport’s Myles Newman’s kick hit the crossbar after all six Sporting players converted from 12 yards.
“It was a very pleasing performance, considering we had eight or nine changes and three youth teamers on the bench,” said manager Smith. “It was a workmanlike display.”
The Rouslers had the majority of the early play but despite a few week efforts failed to get past a well-organised Swifts’ back-line.
Then somewhat against the run of play, Stourport took the lead on 29 minutes when Nick MacPherson headed Dan Sweeney’s corner goallwards and the linesman decided the ball had gone over the line.
Sporting levelled two minutes into the second half following a quick run down the right by John Pykett, who pulled the ball across for Brain to easily tap into the net.
From then on Stourport were pinned back in their own half, but they managed to regain the advantage on 87 minutes. MacPherson collected a pass from Ashley Parsons-Smith and he got the better of Sporting defender Josh Quaynor to slide the ball just wide of goalkeeper Reece Francis.
There was time for more drama when with just a minute left on the clock, Bunn shot through a crowded penalty area and the ball went though Paul Hurrell’s legs and just wide of keeper Dominic Richards’ outstretched glove to make it 2-2.
The game went to penalties and Quaynor, Wade Malley, Brain, Nathan Binner and Canavan all netted to leave it 5-5. Jack Wilson slotted home the next penalty for Sporting but Newman’s effort for Swifts hit the underside of the bar and bounced out.
Sporting: Francis, Roberts, Quaynor, Canavan, Jones (capt), Pykett, Holt (Binner 82 mins), Bunn, Brain, Malley, Wilson. Subs not used: Preston, Morris, Perks, Farnsworth.
