Gornal Athletic 1, Bromsgrove Sporting 2

BROMSGROVE Sporting bagged their first win of the season and progressed into the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup as they saw off Black Country outfit Gornal.

After experimenting with various tactics and formations for the first two matches, the Rouslers opted to use the extra width provided by Reece Hewitt and John Pykett and this gave them the better of the play in the early stages.

With the home side pretty much pinned back into their own half, Sporting created a number of good chances.

Jamie McKeon saw his neat flick pushed round the post by home keeper Richard Kennedy on the eighth minute after a delivery from Joe Adam's free-kick.

Then four minutes later a good interchange between Adams and Sean Brain resulted in a well-placed cross to Josh McKenzie who forced Kennedy into a good save with a powerful header.

Brain himself might have got on to the scoresheet on 14 minutes after dummying two defenders but again it was home keeper who made another good save from the striker's well-hit shot.

However, there was nothing Kennedy could do a minute later when Brain headed home Simon Fitter's excellent free-kick from the half-way line to give Sporting a deserved lead.

Gornal gradually got themselves more into the game. Chris Bladen put an effort just wide on the 36th minute while fellow striker Dreniz Bala forced Sporting keeper Shaun Edwards into a good save a couple of minutes later.

But Sporting were still pressing forward and the second goal finally came two minutes before the interval when Adams latched onto a loose ball and drove a home a low powerful shot from just outside the box.

Gornal put their foot on the throttle a bit much after the change of ends but it was Sporting who had the best chance early on the half when Sam Prescot nearly put the ball into his own net trying to clear Reece Hewitt's well-delivered cross.

The hosts pulled one back on the 64th minute, when Shaun Edwards failed to grasp substitute Liam Hickman's cross and the ball went over his head into the net.

A minute later, Brain could have put the match beyond their opponents but skied a shot that was easier to put in the net.

Sporting had more than enough chances to seal the game but poor finishing but good goalkeeping and a measure of last-ditch defending prevented them from increasing their lead.

Gornal were not to be outdone and a couple of useful substitutions gave them a bit more presence up front. Carl Martin had their best shot of the afternoon on 75 minutes but this was well-saved by Edwards diving low.

Sporting now await the result of the replay between Walsall Wood and Hinckley AFC to see who they will play in the next round at home on Saturday, August 29.

Gornal: Kennedy, Guy, Morris, Prescot, Vaughan, Crudgington, Robertson (Hickman, 58), Stretton (Martin, 73), Bladen, Bala, Edwards (Wedderburn, 73). Subs not used: Cowley, Hughes.

Sporting: Edwards, Roberts, Kelly, Fitter, Jones, McKeon, Pykett (Williams, 73), Hewitt, McKenzie (Gibson, 90), Brain (Conway, 82), Adams. Subs not used: Bunn, Smith, Corbett, Delaney.

Referee: Mr M Groves (Shrewsbury). Attendance: 128 Sporting Man of the Match: Reece Hewitt