The Pitching-In Southern League Premier Division Central, Saturday 14th January 2023, 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Sporting 2 (1) Bedford Town 2 (1) at the Victoria Ground
Following two losses Sporting were back at the Victoria Ground to play Bedford Town (aka The Eagles) in a Southern League match. Tommy Taylor picked up a hamstring injury last week in the match against Hitchin Town so 'keeper Ollie Taylor took the captain's armband and Dom Perkins took his position in the centre of defence, writes Shaunna-Grace Murphy.
It was the home side, attacking the town end of the ground who started faster and in just the second minute Brandon Smalley's free-kick into the box was glanced by Bedford defender Jack Keeble to Miro Pais who under pressure passed to player/manager Mike McGrath to tap in from a couple of yards out. There was a claim for offside but fortunately for The Rouslers there was no flag.
Moments later the away team had a good chance to equalise when Jermaine Howe got the better of Dom Perkins but the burly striker put his shot over the bar.
On 15 minutes there was a good chance for in-form striker, Dan Sweeney when he beat three defenders but Bedford 'keeper Dale Eve dealt well with his resulting shot.
Shortly after Bedford equalised when Joe Butterworth floated over a corner to the far post that the Sporting defence only cleared to Sam Dreyer who drove in the right-hand corner of Ollie Taylor's net from 12 yards out.
On the 23rd minute there was a minute applause for Cody Fisher, the former Rousler who had died tragically in a Birmingham night-club on Boxing Day. The match also stopped for a short while as the referee Mr Sheppard delayed a throw-in.
Shortly before half-time Jack Newell and Mike McGrath both went down injured after clashing heads. Unfortunately Newell, who was clearly concussed, ended up being taken off by stretcher and in a neck brace before being taken to A&E. He was discharged later and it was reported that there is no serious injury.
The second half kicked off and immediately The Eagles were on the front foot with a mix up in the box nearly giving them the lead. However on the 62nd minute they did get in front following a fine run down the left wing by Connor Tomlinson whose accurate cross was prodded home by Edward Gyamfi.
On the 60 minute mark, Jack Tolley entered the pitch replacing the hard-working Joe Curtis and made an instant impact scoring with his first touch a couple of minutes later to make it 2-2. There was no small thanks to Miro Pais for supplying the assist with a superb hoist to the far post that Tolley easily headed into Eve's net.
For the remainder of the half, Bedford had the better chances to take all there points but plucky defending by Sporting prevented any further changes to the scoreline so the two sides shared the spoils, a deserved point for both.
Sporting line-up: Ollie Taylor (Capt), Jack Newell (Kartell Dawkins 45 mins), Ayo Lekuti, Joe Curtis (Jack Tolley 60 mins), Dom Perkins, Mike McGrath, Ammar Dyer, Mo Njie, Dan Sweeney, Brandon Smalley, (Ryan Edmunds 69 mins) Miro Pais. Unused substitutes: Lewis Weight, Callum King-Harmes.
Referee: Mr A Sheppard (Gloucester)
Crowd: 633
Sporting Man of the Match: Joe Curtis
From the Bedford Town Website:
Spoils shared in Bromsgrove as Eagles earn solid point
By Zac Neal
The Eagles got their first point of the year as they drew 2-2 with Bromsgrove Sporting on the road. Goals from Connor Tomlinson and Edward Gyamfi earnt the Eagles a solid point.
The Eagles picked up their first point of 2023 in an entertaining match in Bromsgrove. Despite Sporting going ahead, the Eagles came from behind thanks to goals from Connor Tomlinson and Edward Gyamfi to put Bedford ahead before an equaliser from Jack Tolley was enough to earn Bromsgrove a point.
It was a bad start to the game for the Eagles as Bromsgrove took the lead within three minutes. A free kick was swung in and despite protests from the Bedford defence for offside, Mike McGrath bundled the ball in to give Sporting a dream start.
The Eagles had a golden chance to equalise when Rene Howe was played through on goal but his effort went over the crossbar. Minutes later, the Eagles did get their goal when a corner was drilled in and Connor Tomlinson was their to tap in from short range to get his twelfth goal of the season.
There was a heart-warming moment in the 23rd minute when the game paused and joined the crowd in a minute’s applause for former Bromsgrove Sporting man Cody Fisher who passed away on the 26th December 2022.
The first half ended with both teams level but that was soon changed in the first few minutes of the second half as the Eagles took the lead. There was some classy work down the left wing which led to Connor Tomlinson squaring the ball to Edward Gyamfi to slot into the back of the net to score his third Eagles goal since joining on loan from MK Dons.
Just after the hour mark, Bromsgrove found an equaliser. This came from a free kick lifted into the penalty area which found substitute Jack Tolley who finished. He made quite the early impact as he was subbed on barely a minute before.
Graeme Tomlinson and Callum Donnelly made some subs to try and swing the game back in Bedford’s favour in the final twenty minutes. Drew Richardson, Will Owens and Afolabi Soyemi-Ololade all came on.
With minutes to go, there were some words directed at the linesman after some decisions that he made. The linesman was having none of it. He called over the referee, complained about what happened and he then decided to send off George Thorne and caution Callum Donnelly.
That was about it for the game as the Eagles leave Bromsgrove with a point. A great result for Graeme Tomlinson and Callum Donnelly as they make it four unbeaten this season for when they have been in the dugout. The Eagles now look to next Saturday when Nuneaton Borough travel to The Eyrie for a massive match!
