In this very first ever meeting between Leek Town and Bromsgrove Sporting it was the Blues who emerged victorious to progress to the next round of the FA Trophy with a reasonably comfortable 3-0 win courtesy of two second half goals from Alex Hurst and one from Ollie Shenton.

Whilst the first half ended goalless it was not for a lack of chances created with the majority of them falling to Leek who always looked the more likely of the two sides to break the deadlock.

The game began in a quiet fashion and the first 15mins were only notable for a neat interchange between Connor Heath and Jordan Hodkin that allowed Hodkin to get to the goal line and pull the ball back for Lucas Weir, but just as Weir was about to pull the trigger a Bromsgrove defender managed to nick the ball away with a last ditch challenge whilst at the other end a quick break saw Bromsgrove have a chance with a two on one situation before Tom Curl came across to deny the visitors with an equally vital challenge.

The first shot on target came after 17mins when Heath received the ball on the edge of the area from a Leek throw and used his strength to hold and then roll off his marker with a neat turn to fire in a right footed effort but Bromsgrove goalkeeper Adam Harrison was right behind it for a comfortable save.

Charlie Pavey was looking lively for the visitors finding space off the front line and had two shots within the space of a minute that both narrowly went wide of Dino Vissers right hand post. The first was a low effort on 21mins after Billy Shaw had laid the ball back to him whilst the second was a curling left footer after Pavey had cut in from the right and created the opportunity for himself.

However they would prove to be Bromsgroves only two real chances of the half as Leek began to get on top with Weir, Adam Porter and Billy Reeves starting to dominate the midfield to launch the Blues forays forward and full backs Liam Buckley and Curl also pushing on.

And it was the full backs who had the next opportunities to open the scoring. On 26mins a move down the Leek left resulted in Curl receiving the ball and driving into the box pass a couple of Bromsgrove defenders before hitting the ball with his left foot looking for the far post only to see Harrison produce a good save showing strong hands to push the ball away for a Leek throw on the right.

Buckley threw the ball into Hodkins feet inside the area and followed it in. Hodkin did well to shield the ball and was able to lay it into the path of Buckley who took it on, went on the outside of an opponent and fired in a shot that hit the outside of the post.

Harrison produced another good save for the visitors after 29mins. Heath had battled hard to win a corner for Leek which was quickly taken short to Hurst who dribbled past a defender and fired in a low shot that was blocked. The ball looped up in the air where Porter spun and volleyed it goalwards with Harrison flying to his left to push it away.

Leek came close again on 34mins with a quick break upfield after a Bromsgrove move had been broken up. Heath gained possession and spotted the run of Hurst and found the wide man with the pass. Hurst took it on and his cross-shot was just wide of the far post with Heath, who had followed the action, also just short in being able to reach it for what would have been a tap in.

Heath continued to be a nuisance for the Bromsgrove defence and again his battling for the ball created another opportunity for the Blues just two minutes later with the ball breaking for Weir inside the area but his effort with his weaker right foot flashed just over the crossbar.
Leek continued to press a hard worked Bromsgrove defence looking for the opener. From a throw in from the right wing Hurst turned and curled a dangerous cross into the 6yd box where Heath was able to get a stretching slight touch on it but not enough to divert it past Harrison. Heath then tried his luck from 30yds following a good turn and run when a better option may have been to find Hodkin who was breaking free beyond the back line, with Harrison making a comfortable save.

The final action of the half again saw Heath tussling for the ball with his centre half opponent and being able to lay it off to Hurst who tried to curl it beyond Harrison but the keeper was behind it all the way to preserve the stalemate going into the break.

LEEK TOWN 0 - BROMSGROVE SPORTING 0 HT

The second half began with both sides knowing that the first goal could be vital and both goalkeepers were called into early action. Dino Visser showed a strong right hand to push behind a James Sanderson effort after Bromsgrove had managed to create an overload down the Leek right.

At the other end Harrison produced a great save low down to his left from Hodkins well hit shot with the ball looping up and dropping just over the bar before Leek were unexpectedly awarded a penalty on 62mins. Weir curled in a cross from wide on the left where Jack Kelly misjudged it’s flight in the blustery conditions and instead of heading it allowed his arm to control the ball giving the referee an easy decision to make.

Hurst made no mistake from the spot and the Blues had the crucial opening goal from which they never really looked back with a game plan that now seemed to be to defend in numbers and look to hit Bromsgrove on the counterattack.

Leek substitutes Ollie Shenton and Louis Potts launched such an attack on 74mins as the two combined with a nice exchange of passes before the ball was worked to Hurst on the left. He beat his man and pulled the ball back for the supporting Weir who’s first goal bound effort actually hit his own man in Potts. The ball came back and fell kindly for Weir to follow it up but Harrison produced his best save of the match with an instinctive reflex save to somehow keep the ball out.

The Bromsgrove keeper was keeping his side in the tie and he again came to the rescue on 80mins from another rapid Leek counterattack. Hurst was the instigator as he travelled down the left before cutting infield and spotting the marauding run of Curl over on the right. The ball was played to the full back who advanced a couple of yards before unleashing a fierce shot that Harrison didn’t seem to know much about but managed to get something on it to deflect it over the bar.

The resultant corner was delivered and cleared by the visitors defence to the far post where it was retrieved and kept in play by Julius Ndene. His cross was blocked at the near post but the ball came out to Shenton who took one touch and drove it low through a body of players into the far corner to give the Blues a precious second goal after 81mins.

The game was done but Leek were able to cap off a good overall performance with a third goal in stoppage time. The ball was played up to Potts who held it up under pressure before slipping it inside to Hurst who took it to the edge of the area before providing a measure finish curling a low right footer beyond the reach of Harrison and into the corner of the net.

LEEK TOWN 3 - BROMSGROVE SPORTING 0 FT

REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

So Leek Town progress to the Second Round of the FA Trophy, for only the second time in 12 seasons and will have one eye on the draw on Monday, after that all focus will be on our trip to Warrington Rylands on Saturday 1 November in the Pitching In Northern Premier League.

Our next home game is Tuesday 11 November against Ashton United - you can buy tickets HERE ON FANBASE

Match Photos courtesy of Jim Booth HERE