FA Vase – Second Qualifying Round
Max Banner reports from the Victoria Ground
BROMSGROVE Sporting ignited hopes of a possible cup run on Saturday as they eased to victory over Dudley Sports in the FA Vase.
An early goal from Connor Collins settled any nerves the home side may have had before Sam Wills doubled the Rouslers’ tally after half an hour with a close range effort.
A penalty for Dudley, which was dispatched by Stuart Hillman, gave the visitors a glimmer of hope inside the last five minutes, but a goal from substitute Sean Brain, with the last kick of the game, secured the win for Sporting.
From the first whistle, Bromsgrove were playing with flair and panache, with sharp passing amongst the midfielders and attackers. And they were soon rewarded with the opener as new signing Collins netted on ten minutes.
The former Fairfield Villa man curled his left footed effort into the bottom corner in style as the diving goalkeeper Samuel Pearson just failed to divert the ball wide.
Simon Fitter had the first of his many chances on the 18th minute mark as his shot from long-range was comfortably saved by Pearson.
But Sporting would not have to wait much longer to extend their lead. Wills’ run into the box left him one-on-one with the keeper and he found the finish as he calmly placed it into the net.
Fitter had four free kicks either side of the half-time whistle – two before and two after. The closest he came to a goal came eight minutes into the second half, when his sumptuously struck free kick pinged off the crossbar and to safety.
Liam Spink missed an inviting opportunity 15 minutes from the end before Luke Williams saw his opportunistic effort for the visitors tipped over by Sporting’s latest shot stopper Josh Moreton.
Dudley were handed a lifeline when Craig Jones committed a foul in the penalty area and Hillman dispatched the resultant spot kick.
This providing Sporting with a nervy last few moments, but Brain’s last gasp effort, where he took the ball around Pearson and found an open goal at his mercy, secured the win and allayed any fears the home side may have had.
