Cradley Town 1, Bromsgrove Sporting 0

SPORTING had a good work out against a well-organised and capable Cradley outfit on Saturday.

Bromsgrove had the better of the play in the first half and could have been three up at half-time had it not been for some good defending and goalkeeping.

As it was they went in a goal down after failing to clear a loose ball on the 34th minute that was hit home giving Rouslers keeper Jake Bedford no chance.

Craig Jones had Bromsgrove's first chance heading over in the 10th minute from Reece Hewitt's free kick.

The next good opportunity fell to striker Sean Brain who rounded keeper Matt Jones only for the stopper to palm the ball on to his bar and then it went out of play.

Two minutes later, Cradley scored but Sporting came close again, only for Brain to be denied by Jones.

Then just before half-time there was another one-on-one between Brain and Jones with a keeper making a double save before seeing the ball go harmlessly over his bar.

The second half was pretty uneventful with both teams making a number of substitutions which upset the rhythm of play.

James McKeon had the best effort to equalise for Sporting on the 87th minute but his chip beat the keeper only to also go over the bar.

Sporting (first half): Bedford, Roberts, Kelly, Fitter, Jones, Adams, Dugmore, Wills, Hewitt, Brain, McKenzie.

Second half: Edwards, Roberts (Jones, 60), Ludlow, Fitter, Kelly, Hewitt (Powell, 60), McKeon, Eminoglu, Wills (Gibson, 60), Corbett, McKenzie (Pykett, 60).