Football
Sporting sink local rivals

Buy photos » Peter Jenvey holds off his man during Bromsgrove Sporting’s 4-0 victory at Northfield. Picture by David Besley.

BROMSGROVE Sporting made the perfect start to 2012 with a 4-0 Midland Combination Division One success at Northfield on Monday.

For Sporting, it was a welcome away win but for the home side it leaves them nine points adrift at the bottom of the table.

With a strong but cold wind behind them, Sporting started the brighter and forced three early corners.

The hosts cleared each one comfortably but they failed to keep possession, allowing the visitors plenty of space to move forward.

Jon Rogers, returning to the front line after missing the Saturday’s victory at Inkberrow put Bromsgrove ahead in the 15th minute when he scored from a rebound after home keeper Andy Morgan did well to parry Keith Draper’s low drive.

Northfield had a couple of half chances when Hartley Wilkes hit one over the bar as did Nick Partridge from a free kick but it was Sporting who were creating the better openings on a soft pitch that had only been declared fit earlier in the morning.

The second goal came a minute before half time when Rogers made a run through the home defence before hitting a pass to Draper who hit home from ten-yards.

Northfield introduced a couple of substitutes in the hope of strengthening the midfield but even when having to contend with tight marking, Sporting retained most of the possession and kept the ball well in their opponent’s half.

The lead was extended in the 56th minute when Joe Brookes threaded a pinpoint pass to Peter Jenvey, who found himself with just the keeper to beat which he did, slotting into the bottom right hand corner.

Legs were beginning to get tired as the tempo dropped for the last quarter of the match but Sporting did manage one more goal as the contest entered injury time when Rogers got his second as he sidestepped the helpless Andy Morgan and tapped low into the net.

Sporting entertain Shirley Town in the second round of the Smedley Crooke Cup on Saturday (3pm).

Chris Bright battles for a high ball against Northfield on Monday. Picture by David Besley.