BROMSGROVE Sporting moved a step closer to a trip to Wembley with a fine 3-2 victory over Nuneaton Griff in the first round proper of the FA Vase on Saturday.
The Warwickshire outfit refused to make it an easy passage for their in-form opponents though as they opened the scoring through Aden Moore before the Rouslers hit back with a goal from Sean Brain.
But the turning point came five minutes before the break when Will Tibbetts struck twice, with his second coming on the stroke of half-time.
Moore got his second to close the gap, but Sporting held on to secure a place in the second round where they travel to Borrowash Victoria of the East Midland Counties League on Saturday (November 22).
More than 300 people packed into the Victoria Ground to see the hosts make history as it was the furthest the club had gone in the competition since they were formed in 2009.
But they were stunned into silence in the opening 15 minutes as Nuneaton came storming out of the blocks. They twice hit the woodwork, with Jack Colley hitting the base of the right hand posts from the edge of the area, before the visitors took the lead.
Moore, who also saw his effort cannon off the upright after a fine save from Jake Bedford, pounced onto Adam Russell’s pass before firing in from 12 yards.
This sprung the home side into life and after Sam Wills hit the side netting after great approach play by Tibbetts they equalised on the half hour mark. Brain was the scorer as he netted from close range after Aaron Daniels had forced his way into the box and delivered a pin-point cross.
Bromsgrove were almost ahead within seconds of the restart as Brain’s cross for fellow striker Daniels struck the post.
Paul Smith’s men continued to press hard and they were rewarded with a quick-fire double before the break. Tibbetts headed home Reece Hewitt’s cross before Bromsgrove won a penalty after Alex Horton brought down live-wire Brain.
The Nuneaton keeper did well to save Tibbetts’ penalty, but the Sporting player made amends moments later when his header beat Horton.
Despite the double blow for the visitors, they responded well after the interval as Moore chalked up his second with a low shot.
With just one goal separating the two sides, the second half turned out to be an entertaining contest. Most of the chances fell Bromsgrove’s way, but they failed to find the finishing touch.
Bedford, meanwhile, was never seriously tested as Sporting clinched the win which leaves them just six more victories away from a final at Wembley.
