Cleethorpes Town 1, Bromsgrove Sporting 0

BROMSGROVE Sporting’s FA Vase dreams are over after a spirited second half performance was not enough to see them overcome Cleethorpes.

After a 1-1 draw back at the Victoria Ground last weekend, Sporting needed a victory in the away leg to guarantee their place at Wembley.

The away side got off to the worst possible start conceding within the first 60 seconds and from Cleethorpes’ first attack.

Straight from the kick off, Cleethorpes were on the attack, putting pressure on the Bromsgrove back line.

A prospective ball launched over the top, between the Sporting defence and Price in goal, was met by a lovely touch from King who lobbed the ball over the keeper’s head and out of his reach.

But despite the early set-back, the Sporting players did not let it mentally affect their performance.

A cagey first half followed with chances for both sides, although Cleethorpes attacking quality was proving the difference between the two teams.

But Sporting came out like a different team in the second half and were unlucky not to go level when, for the first time in the match, Spink got down the right hand side of the pitch and put in a great low cross for Cowley who was inches away from making contact.

Cowley was trying his hardest to get the equaliser and had the best chance of the second half when he latched onto a ball over the top of the Cleethorpes defence, and with just the keeper to beat – who slipped in the box – Cowley put the shot over the bar.

A few minutes later Cowley had another chance, this time from a free kick. After being fouled just outside the box following a jinky run, the striker himself took the set piece which was destined for inside the post until Hilton managed to push the shot clear.

Despite throwing everything at Cleethorpes in the second half, Sporting just couldn’t turn their chances into goals and their dreams of FA Vase glory at Wembley are over.

Cleethorpes: Hilton, Lowe, Winn, Richardson, Bloomer, Coleman, Masiall, Flett (c), Cooper, King, Davis

Subs: Taylor, Dickens, Oglesby, Suntor, Wressoll

Sporting: Price, Roberts, Jones (c), Edwards, Morris, Spink, Ali, Bunn, Hewitt, Cowley, Wills

Subs: Wilson, Meakin-Richards, Tibbetts, Shorthouse, Nicol