BRENDAN Kelly says Bromsgrove Sporting’s win over Tamworth to take them top of the league was the biggest in the club’s history.
Leon Broadhurst’s 58th-minute header, coupled with a superhuman display by goalkeeper Daniel Platt down the other end, took the Rouslers to the summit of the table for the first time in their debut season at Step Three.
Although their opponents were leapfrogged as a result in the top-of-the-table clash, Tamworth still have three games in hand on Sporting, though that mattered little to a delighted Kelly.
“The result is the biggest result the club’s ever had,” said the Bromsgrove manager.
“We were going into the game on a great run against the red-hot league favourites, but with the squad very much stretched.
“We had the big crowd backing us and to take six points off them in the same season is fantastic, I’m absolutely delighted with the lads.”
The opening chance of the game fell the way of the visitors when Dan Creaney beat the offside trap to go clear through on goal, only to be denied in a one-on-one by Platt.
A case of deja vu followed, as Platt this time kept Creaney out with his feet after the forward had found a way through Bromsgrove’s defence.
Two chances then fell for Tamworth’s Bilal Yafai midway through the half, but failed to test Platt with either attempt.
Sporting’s first real chance of note came on the half-hour mark, following a Greg Mills free-kick from which defender Tom Taylor had two efforts from close-range kept out.
In the final five minutes of the half, two further chances for Creaney went to waste.
The first, a strike off-target, was followed by a second attempt which was hit straight at Platt as half-time beckoned.
A low shot from Gift Mussa lacked any real direction or pace to trouble Lambs stopper Jasbir Singh, something which Rhys Hoenes was also guilty of inside Sporting’s penalty area.
Then, with the game approaching the hour mark, Mills’ free-kick into the penalty area was flicked on by a Tamworth defender into the path of Broadhurst, who nodded into the top corner.
Platt was equal to a stinging strike from James Fry, saving with his fingertips as Sporting managed to hold firm in spite of late Tamworth pressure.
Instead, it was Bromsgrove who were likely to score next with the last opportunity of the game.
With Singh sent forward for a late corner kick which was cleared by the hosts, returning forward Shaquille McDonald rolled a strike from 35 yards narrowly wide of the empty net.
Quotes from Ben Tyler; match report details from Max Banner.
