Bromsgrove Sporting 5 (2) v (1) 2 Hampton FC

Mid Com Division 1

Today’s match was preceded by a perfectly observed silence respecting the late Gary Speed. On reflection, after 90 minutes fans had witnessed the kind of game Speed would have loved being in the thick of with no quarter asked or given by either side.

That Sporting came out 5-2 winners was due to their commitment to the cause which ultimately earned them the right to get the ball down and play some good football.

It all looked different early on when Hampton caught out Sporting from a Sporting defensive throw when Dan Wilkes tried to dribble the ball out and was caught in possession on the edge of his own box.  Hampton capitalised and took full value as Mansell beat the advancing Biddle to put the visitors a goal up.

It took only 2 minutes for Sporting to level with a debut goal for new signing Conway as he scored with a sublime flick from a precise layback from Kev Banner.

By half-time Sporting were in front as another piece of quality from Banner saw him score direct from a free kick into the bottom corner.  His shot was a joy to behold from behind the goal as he waited for the wall to move just a foot to its left and slotted the ball exactly where the defender had come from to make it 2-1.

Some robust challenges and a referee who seemed to struggle to control the tackles made this a robust contest and Sporting would have been pleased to come back in the face of such a challenge when in previous games they might have crumbled.

Certainly, Hampton’s central defenders seemed to enjoy the opportunity to wind up the home fans and Sporting supporters felt there was some justice in the Banner goal as Hanmpton’s number six had made a few gestures to suggest where the crowd might want to go to whilst the referee sorted out the melee before Banner stepped up to score.

On 71 minutes the game should have been over as a contest as Bradley Williamson dispossessed  Mansell and played in Conway for his second to put Sporting 3 – 1 up. Unfortunately, Sporting’s Christmas spirit showed again as keeper Biddle gifted Williams a goal as he let a shot from 30 yards through him and into the net.

Hampton threatened to get an equaliser a despite Banner hitting a post and Hampton clearing a shot off the line it required Conway’s third on 83 minutes to finally end the visitors resistance.  The Sporting faithful were rewarded with a final goal from substitute Hendry with his first shot to make the scoreline 5 – 2 in the home side’s favour.

Going forward with Banner putting in a great performance on the left and Conway and Williamson working hard for the team Sporting looked irresistible but if they are to be in the shake up at the end of the season they have to cut out the defensive errors.

Sporting team: Biddle, Lismore, Harris, Jones, Brookes (Cpt), Wilkes (Rogers G), Banner, Rogers Ja, Conway (Hendry), Williamson (Shaw), Draper. Subs not used: Allen, Lodge