Bolehall Swifts 0, Bromsgrove Sporting 0

Sporting won 4-3 on penalties

BROMSGROVE Sporting go into the festive season on a high note after overcoming a strong Bolehall Swift's side in tough league cup match.

In the process they won a penalty shoot-out for the first time after seven previous attempts with keeper Jake Bedford the hero this time making the crucial save to take the tie by four spot-kicks to three.

Before the sudden-death decider though, there was 120 minutes of competitive and quality football played on a heavy and uneven pitch.

Neither side allowed their opposite numbers many opportunities with both defences being solid and well-organised.

Bolehall will probably regret a gilt-edged opportunity to go ahead in the third minute when Dave Yonwin played a neat pass to Chris Cowley who scooped the ball over the Bromsgrove back-four, beating Bedford between the sticks only to see his shot bounce off the post.

With much of the game played in the middle of the park chances were few but Bedford made the best save of the first half diving low after David Boal shot though a crowded penalty area.

Sporting were struggling to get the ball to the two strikers and the best chance fell to midfielder Reece Hewitt but his weak effort was easily gathered by Bolehall shot-stopper Paul Hathaway.

After the interval, Swifts pushed forward quickly and after winning a free-kick just outside the box, Adam Goodby hit the woodwork again, this time the bar with a well-taken place kick.

That really was the last good chance for Bolehall as Sporting had the better of the possession of the second half and with just 10 minutes to go, Will Tibbetts was adjudged to have been pushed over in the box but Hathaway guessed right and dived low to save Simon Fitter's spot kick.

With the proceedings still unresolved on 90 minutes, extra-time was played and the Rouslers did get the ball up front a little more with Tibbetts and Jack Wilson going close but the best chance fell to substitute Michael Bradley who just failed to toe-poke home an excellent cross from Wilson.

In the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Bedford saved Bolehall's first effort only for Hathaway to immediately save from Will Tibbetts.

After cancelling each other out, Bradley made it 4-3 then Bedford saved from Chris Sturridge-Parker to give Sporting the tie with much cheering from the away supporters.

Bolehall: Hathaway, Deavall, Abbott, Huckfield, Millerchip, Pollard (Sturridge-Parker, 78), Goodby, Goodby, Yonwin (Lapworth, 46), Cowley, Boal (Thompson 69 mins).

Unused substitute: Dave Haywood.

Sporting: Bedford, Duggan, Morris, Fitter, Smith (Clarke, 90), Jones, Tibbetts, Hewitt, Brain (Bradley, 108), Wills (Lennon, 63), Wilson.

Unused substitutes: Ryan Mahon, Orrin Pendley Referee: A Parker (Coalville) Attendance: 75 Sporting Man of the Match: Reece Hewitt