Title-chasers are put to the sword (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Title-chasers are put to the sword

6:00pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in Sport

SPORTING got back on track in the Midland Combination Premier Division as they saw off title-chasing Coventry Copsewood at the Victoria Ground on Saturday.

Second-half strikes from Keith Draper and substitute Jovan Blake-Walker were enough to seal a much-needed victory against an away side who rarely threatened the home goal.

Chris Morrison also emerged as man of the match after the striker took the captain’s armband and played as an emergency centre back.

Sporting started with intent as Elliott Nash looked lively but Rouslers keeper Tom Savage was forced into action when he saved from a free-kick.

Morrison also cleared the ball from an open goal as Copsewood threatened to open the scoring.

In an end-to-end first half, both teams spurned chances to take the lead, with Nash shooting over an open goal just before the break.

The second half started much the same as the first had ended with plenty of half chances, particularly for the Rouslers, though there was a lack of clinical finishing from both sides.

Chris Conway burst forward to get on the end of a well-placed Draper through ball, though was called offside, before Morrison was once again called upon to clear off the line at the other end.

Sporting were beginning to put some real pressure on Copsewood, who started to buckle as the half progressed.

The hosts were putting together some decent passing moves, with Nash and Nicol linking up well though the ball went over the bar.

Conway coolly put the ball in the back of the net minutes later, but was flagged offside.

Turk, Nicol, Draper and Rogers were all involved in a very intricate passing move which brought applause from the crowd, as they drove forward from midfield, though the chance was eventually closed out by the away defence.

Bradley Whitehouse made his debut for Sporting when he replaced the hard-working Turk and the debutant tried some abitious long range efforts.

Sporting were finally rewarded for their efforts with a goal when Draper found space inside the box after a goalmouth scramble and fired the ball into the top corner, to put his team 1-0 up in the 75th minute.

Twelve minutes later, substitute Jovan Blake-Walker found himself in space and placed the ball well into the bottom corner to seal Sporting’s first win in four games.

Sporting: Savage, Roberts, Humphries, Ross, MORRISON, Harris, Nash, Turk (Whitehouse, 65), Nicol (Blake-Walker, 73), Conway (Rogers, 60), Draper.

Subs not used: Parker, Gardiner.

Coventry Copsewood: Furlong, Clancy (Spence, 46), Adamson, Civzelis (Scarr, 46), Hunt, Fowler, Wimbush, Thompson, Bawden, Gordon, Fraser (Felton, 85).

Referee: Mr G Warren (Bromsgrove).