Football
Sporting go through at Villa's expense

Buy photos » Fairfield's Chris Pratt and Chris Parish apply pressure on Sporting's Jon Rogers as he fires goalwards. Picture by Andre Roberts.

BROMSGROVE Sporting booked their place in the semi-finals of the Smedley Crooke Challenge Trophy with a 2-1 home victory against local rivals Fairfield Villa on Saturday.

Villa went into the game determined to put on a better display than when beaten 4-1 at the same venue in Midland Combination Division One on Boxing Day and they did just that.

With better finishing it might have been them celebrating at the final whistle but as it was, goals from Jon Rogers and Bradley Williamson sent the home side through.

Dean Beagan and Lewis Smith went close in the first half for the visitors before Ryan Sproston saw a shot blocked when well placed.

Sporting, who entertain title hopefuls Blackwood on Saturday, then forced a good save out of Owen Hancox at the other hand but that was to prove his last real contribution as a knee injury forced him to be replaced by Marc Rogers at half time.

Beagan headed wide when well placed at the start of the second half and Sporting eventually made Villa pay for their missed opportunities.

Shortly after Jamie Hatfield cleared off the line for the visitors, former Villa man Jon Rogers opened the scoring with a shot that found the back of the net despite Marc Rogers getting a hand to it.

The lead was doubled three minutes later when Williamson headed home from a corner but Villa refused to give in and shortly after the impressive Martin Slevin rattled the bar, Hatfield headed home.

Villa, who knocked Sporting out of the President's Cup back in April, pushed for an equaliser in the closing minutes but Sporting kept them out to set up a last four clash with either Boldmere St Michaels Reserves or Cadbury Athletic who play their quarter-final on March 10.

SPORTING'S Reserves won 3-1 at Northfield Town in Midland Combination Reserve League Division Two.

The visitors dominated for long periods but were wasteful in the final third until just before half time when captain/assistant manager Craig Vale got forward from left back and cut inside to curl home from 25-yards.

Two smart finishes from Rob Hendry saw Sporting add to their tally before Northfield pulled one back.

Leon Mooney impressed in an attacking midfield role for Bromsgrove with Lee Crook having the discipline to cover alongside him.

The defence communicated well and Jamie Hatch made several smart saves throughout the afternoon.