Bromsgrove Sporting 1, Runcorn Town 0

Another competent performance by Bromsgrove Sporting saw then overcome Cheshire side on Saturday.

From the kick-off the home side dominated proceedings keeping Runcorn well pinned back in their own half for much of the match.

Sporting took the lead fairly early on when Aaron Williams got a foot to a poor Runcorn back pass that just went past their keeper.

Up to then away side appeared to be somewhat truculent, disputing a lot of the referee's decisions and getting quite bad-tempered as they failed to control proceedings.

The goal only made things worse and things spilled over on the 20th minute when unusually for a friendly one of the away side's midfield was sent off for foul and abusive language.

Normally the referee would ask the side to make a substitution.

Rather than capitalise on the situation and go for more goals, Sporting appeared to be content sitting on their lead and moving the ball round in an attempt to open up the Runcorn defence.

To be fair to the Cheshire side they defended resolutely but had to work hard but this was at the expense of any attacking play they only came in short bursts.

After the interval Sean Brain had a shot well-saved while captain on the day, Brendan Kelly grazed the bar with a fierce 20-yard drive.

Just before the final whistle, Joe Adams will consider himself to be unlucky when after his interchange with Aaron Williams, his shot was also well-stopped.

As with most pre-season friendlies both sides made a number of substitutions in the second half allowing both managers to have a good look at a number of players.

Sporting, who were set to play Dudley Sports on Tuesday, start the Midlands Premier at home to Southam United on Saturday (3pm ko).

Sporting: Hayes, Roberts (Delaney, 72), Kelly, Fitter, Poulter (Adams, 57), McKeon (Fleming, 86), Wills (O'Connell, 63 mins), Williams, Brain (Gibson, 63), Corbett, Hewitt (Pykett, 72 mins).

Attendance: 145 Referee: M Steward (Redditch)