Bromsgrove Sporting 1 Knowle 0
Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup
Second Round
A SECOND-HALF substitution provided the inspiration to fire Bromsgrove Sporting past doughty visitors Knowle in Tuesday night’s cup tie.
It was largely an evening of frustration for Sporting
against Midland League Division Two outfit Knowle until manager Paul Smith opted to introduce Tony Clarke, Chris Conway and Jason Cowley.
The changes made immediate effect as Clarke’s flick on was slotted home by Conway past the onrushing Knowle goalkeeper Conal Dowling with his very first touch the game.
“The introduction of the three lads coming on gave us impetus. Knowle were difficult to break down,” said Smith.
“Bringing on fresh legs made the difference. It wasn’t the greatest performance but in cup games it’s all about the result.”
The first half provided little action at either end. Knowle seemed happy to sit deep and break on the counter when the opportunity presented itself.
Knowle went the closest in the 26th minute when Callum Mallet thought he had opened the scoring for the visitors only to be denied by the offside flag.
Sporting were missing a creative spark in the first half perhaps missing Ahmed Ali who left for Redditch United earlier this week.
The early stages of the second half showed no change from where the game had left off, and with the attending 240 supporters fearing a penalty until Conway’s crucial strike.
After the goal no more chances were created from either side except Cowley stung Dowling’s palms from long range. It was not the most exciting game game at the Victoria Ground compared to recent encounters, but Sporting can consider the performance a job successfully done to progress to the third round.
