Blackwood 0, Bromsgrove Sporting 4

SPORTING all but secured second-place in the Midland Combination Premier after a four goal blast in the first half shot down plucky Blackwood on Saturday.

Had the home team taken their chances and had a bit much luck, the result could well have been different.

Former Rousler Daniel Pitt was so keen to get one over his former team mates that he got called offside four time in the first five minutes.

However there was a limit as to how much running around Blackwood could do and gradually Sporting gained control of the match by making good use of the flanks and getting the ball to Sean Williams and Danny Ludlow out on the wings.

It was hosts who came closest to taking the lead on the 22nd minute and it proved to be monumental let-off for Sporting, when Daniel Pitt hit the post.

Two minutes, later Sporting took the lead when Mark Bellingham headed home a Brett Mander cross.

Pitt could have replied for the hosts but scuffed a shot which keeper Jake Bedford saved.

Bromsgrove's second came on 38 minutes after Blackwood failed clear allowing a neat interchange between Matt Poyner and Sam Wilkinson before the lanky midfielder slotted home under a diving Shaun Edwards.

Two minutes later, Sporting increased their lead. This time it was Ludlow who supplied the cross from the left and with Bellingham unmarked, a gentle glance made it three.

The final score of the afternoon came on the stroke of half-time when the ever-dangerous Williams evaded several markers down the right before chipping over the Blackwood defence to Bellingham who had plenty of time to line up his shot which went into the bottom right hand corner for his hat-trick and 43rd goal of the season in just 32 games.

What followed was a fairly uneventful second half as Sporting defended their lead and this time took no risks. Dean Poulson and substitute Lee Thorp has good attempts to get Blackwood back in the match while Williams early on and Billy Russell who came on for Darius Darkin had the best efforts for the visitors.

But it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the home side and with no additions to the scoreline referee Mr Cutts blew for full-time after four added minutes.

Barring Atherstone United making up a 30-goal difference their last four matches, Sporting have now secured the runners-up position and the most successful campaign in their four years existence.

Blackwood: Edwards, Florey, McEvoy, Dineen, Checketts, Abonandi, Chesters (Busby, 83), Hill (Lewis, 86), Evans, Pitt (Thorp, 66), Poulson.

Subs not used: John, Hudson.

Sporting: Bedford, Mander, Wilson, Wilkinson, Cole, Jones, Williams, Darkin (Russell, 63), Bellingham, Poyner, Ludlow (Taylor, 69).

Sub not used: Andrews Referee: Mr R Cutts (Birdingbury, Warwickshire) Attendance: 97 Sporting man of the match: Mark Bellingham