BROMSGROVE SPORTING 3-2 STOURPORT SWIFTS (a.e.t.): match report by The Mowdog...

Swifts Fitted Up By Quick Kick Fitter

Bromsgrove Sporting 3 Stourport Swifts 2

(a.e.t. FA Vase Qualifying Round 1 replay)

Simon Fitter, who seems to turn up regularly, wherever I watch my non-league football, played a stubborn midfield role for Bromsgrove in this Vase replay but then, during a dour extra-time period and following his unsurprising caution, he became a real force and exploded from a throw-in on the Sporting left during the second extra period, firing a vicious cross-shot into the far top corner of the Swifts’ net. He had thus earned the hosts a victory which had looked unlikely after the replacement of both their strikers before the visitors’ pressure had resulted in a 90^th minute equaliser from John Griffin. Sporting’s first-half display had seen them capitalise upon two Stourport errors to appear home and dry, but Swifts’ midfielder Michael McGrath was instrumental in his team’s fight-back, although in truth, home ‘keeper Jake Bedford was splendidly protected by the awesome defensive pairing of skipper Scott Smith and side-kick Toby Checketts. At least Fitter’s strike nullified the need for penalties… I was really welcomed superbly by the officials from Bromsgrove, for which I was humbled and now feel really grateful.

The toss...

The Rouslers seem up for it...

A Swift kick-off...

Stourport defended an early Will Tibbetts cross at the expense of a corner, then a shot by the visitors struck the arm of either Reece Hewitt or Ryan Mahon but the referee was unmoved by the verbal claims. Tibbetts would always prove to be lively on the right flank for the home team. The game had begun in lively fashion and both teams attacked at will, although Swifts seemed intent upon finding powerful striker Lewis Pountney with high service, which was too often negated by the aerial prowess of Checketts and Smith. Sam Wills, now not of Earlswood, or even Studley, saw a shot deflected upwards for Stourport ‘keeper Brendon Bunn to collect but at the opposite end, a long throw by Swifts midfielder Alex Cowley was defended well by the home defence. Pountney did manage to head on a pass for partner Griffin, whose movement reminded me of a hyena skirting and harassing its prey, but the forward smacked his shot well off target from 25 yards or so.

Cowley bustled through the midfield and drove in a low, but inaccurate shot, before the slightly hesitant hosts were awarded a free-kick just 24 yards from goal, which Wills shaped to take. His curling effort over the Stourport defensive wall was covered but then fumbled by Bunn, as if he was unable to hang onto a lively ferret and Chris Conway slid with Swifts defender Kevin Spencer into the rebound, which Conway managed to nudge just inside the left upright, despite hurting himself in the process.

1-0 and Conway down...

Conway still down...

Ah, Conway up now...

Stourport rallied and Cowley fired a low shot, which took a fortunate deflection off the irrepressible Smith for the hosts and the ensuing corner was also defended well by Sporting. A good, slick break by Sporting, which included a neat trick on the left by Hewitt and a pass by Fitter led to Tibbetts combining on the right with Hewitt, the instigator of the move, to cross for Wills; Wills was unable to get onto the ball as defender Michael Briscoe sprawled on the ground like a shoebill stork thrashing at a lungfish, although Conway did connect but directed his 17 yard effort off target and the chance was lost. More decent Bromsgrove passing led to a 25 yarder by Fitter, who generally strikes a ball so well but this time his effort drifted past the right angle of bar and upright.

Free-kick, or maybe a barn dance...

Quite suddenly though, Wills slipped a clever, measured pass for Conway to latch onto at inside-right and he went down under Jamie Willetts’ tackle to earn Bromsgrove a penalty, which Wills took, left footed. From a distance, it looked like the wily, creative player had clipped a cheeky spot-kick into the right corner of the net, reminding me ever-so-slightly of Ramos’ casual effort for Spain against Macedonia on the previous evening but the reports I heard from the Sporting bench were that Wills felt he had “…shanked it…” It’s what he does. 2-0 and still Stourport, for all their endeavour, had failed to rattle home ‘keeper Bedford.

2-0 and I painted this image in the Impressionist style, taking just 4 seconds.
Impressed with Impressionism?

A neat clipped pass from the elusive Wills, right side, to Conway led to a disappointing low effort wide of the near stick, then after a Hewitt shot was blocked, the visitors broke, only for Craig Jones, whose frown scared me, to defend Pountney successfully. Two late corners for Swifts caused some problems for Sporting; the first was flicked onto Checketts’ foot just beyond the far post by the leaping Bedford, thus conceding a second flag-kick, whereby Spencer rose but headed McGrath’s delivery too high. The break arrived, Bromsgrove manager Smudger Smith’s earnest expression was still actually very earnest and it was evident that Spencer would not return for Swifts, after “…having a bit of trouble…” Actually Betty, he was hurt. Calvin Dinsley would replace him. And then I saw a rarity: a Bromsgrove coach warmed up the substitutes, who went through a sensible process, instead of becoming a rabble of chaps attempting the ‘crossbar challenge’, hacking shots out of the ground, or perhaps having a pee against a fence, or even having a crafty fag… Well done, Sporting…

Half-time skills...

Bromsgrove were confronted by a more powerful approach by their guests after the break and several free-kicks were conceded by the panicky hosts. Following a short free-kick, McGrath drove a shot too high but made amends when he curled a fine left-footer from 25 yards past the diving Bedford. 2-1 and Fitter was cautioned as more infringements were spotted by the eager official. The third of these free-kicks from 28 yards, was fired too high by the lip-licking McGrath, yet another from the right was headed downwards to Bedford by Pountney at the far post and as Bromsgrove made some mistakes, Cowley fired a low delivery across the face of goal. Bromsgrove had been in danger of throwing away the game but somehow they managed to rally, despite being the less dominant team.

Danny Ludlow’s right-wing corner was met by Checketts’ downward header, only for the effort to be blocked on the goal-line by his own forward, Conway. Bet Toby was pleased… Wills’ movement continued to be the attacking threat for Sporting but when an errant defensive header by the visitors fell onto Conway’s foot, his angled volley from the right cleared the crossbar. Back came Stourport physically and McGrath lashed another long drive too high, before his right-sided colleague, Ashley Parsons-Smith fired wastefully wide. Wills ran intelligently to pick up a loose ball on the left for the Rouslers, turned inside and curled a fine angled right-footer, which Bunn beat away well but as the attendance of 301 was announced, the guests changed personnel. Parsons-Smith was replaced by Paul Hurrell and Cowley was replaced by Luke Morris. Er, Morris and Cowley? With a Bedford and a Fitter too? I like that.

Another McGrath free-kick, towards the right was lifted much too high, Dinsley was cautioned for a foul and Chris Sockett plugged the offensive gap for the hosts, after Conway was withdrawn hurt. Stourport attacked with not a great amount of finesse but with some real strength and Pountney’s header offered Morris a chance near the right post but although Bedford fumbled the substitute’s short low pass across goal, he clung on. Robbie Ager replaced the ailing Wills for Sporting then Smith produced a superb tackle on the threatening Griffin. The ensuing corner was lifted to the far post and Willetts’ towering header slapped the outside of the upper section of the vertical pole.

Incredibly, as time ran out, Stourport fired in a shot, which went wide of the right upright and to Bromsgrove’s anguish, the official awarded a right-side corner to Swifts. Griffin ran to the near post, beating the falling Checketts and glanced his stooping low header beyond the rooted Bedford and into the far corner of the net. The Swifts had finally regained parity and the game moved into extra-time.

Positive Swifts before extra-time...

Frustrated Rouslers face the extra half-hour...

Bedford knocked away a dangerous Dinsley corner, with Pountney hovering, in the overtime period and then the head of Pountney knocked on a deep cross from the right but Bedford dropped upon the effort comfortably. McGrath was cautioned as Swifts looked the stronger outfit, especially as both home strikers had been replaced, possibly both would have been spot-kickers too… Checketts headed out bravely from in front of his own goal and Hurrell drove way too high from 25 yards and at the opposite end in a forgettable first period, Checketts was off target with his header for the hosts from a left-side centre.

The second period was surprisingly more even and Fitter took control of the midfield like a plumber with a wrench. A throw on the left led to Sockett’s cross being blocked by a defender’s chest straight to Fitter, who took a step inside and struck his right-footed 25 yard cross-shot brilliantly and the ball rocketed into the top right-hand corner of the net, which was decent of him, as the lower parts of the net had been knitted together before kick-off… We knew he struck a ball well, but that was classy. The only problem left to face for Sporting, as Stourport struggled to recover from the shock of going behind again, was a very late free-kick from 24 yards by McGrath but this time his curled left-footer dropped into the grateful Bedford’s arms.

The Fitter tests the drains: 3-2...

Fitter flat...

This had been a real cup-tie and I was glad I had chosen to go and watch it, rather than Coalville v Spalding… Not only had Bromsgrove got Peter Christmas on the bench, manager Smudger Smith must have thought it WAS Christmas when Fitter’s gift flew in… I went home, glad my camera batteries had just about lasted the match, for Mr Fitter would never have allowed me to forget it, had I missed capturing his goal… I went home relieved and sat with a bowl of Weetabix.

We can all go home now...

Well, it’s what I do… 

Teams: 

Bromsgrove:  Jake Bedford, Will Tibbetts, Craig Jones; Simon Fitter, Scott Smith (Capt), Toby Checketts; Ryan Mahon, Reece Hewitt, Chris Conway, Sam Wills, Danny Ludlow.

Subs: Peter Christmas, Chris Duggan, Dave Almond, Chris Sockett, Robbie Ager.      

Stourport:  Brendon Bunn, Ash Parsons-Smith, Jamie Willetts; Michael Briscoe, Kevin Spencer, Gary Walker (Capt); Alex Cowley, Michael McGrath, Lewis Pountney, John Griffin, Jamie Hyde.

Subs: Calvin Dinsley, Paul Hurrell, Ben Maund, Luke Morris, Alex Lavery.