Sporting crashed out of the cup in the third round after an even encounter saw Lichfield clinch the win in extra time.
The hosts went behind early from the penalty spot on the back of some strong pressure from the visitors, but they rallied back well and found themselves level before the break. The game went into extra time and a late brace from City saw them progress to the next round, while Sporting were left rueing a number of wasted chances and some lacklustre defending.
For Lichfield's visit, Sporting managers Keith Draper and Graham Scott handed Scott Devlin his debut after the midfielder had impressed in training. The game also saw the return of striker Chris Morrison to the starting line-up after a recent injury layoff.
The Lichfield side included ex-Blackwood attacker Jacob Snape, playing in a more central role alongside striking partner, Kyle Minto. And it was this partnership which put Sporting under the cosh early in the game.
The pace and trickery of Snape in particular proved a stern test for the home defence and it was the little number nine who earned a penalty on the quarter hour mark. He then dusted himself down and from the spot slotted a well-placed shot low into the corner beyond Tom Savage, who'd done well to guess the right way.
As the half progressed, the home side began to force themselves more into the game with winger Elliot Nash putting on an impressive display down the left flank. Time and again he picked up the ball deep in his own half and carried it forward with purpose, carving out some decent chances. His pass on twenty-five minutes found fellow winger Jon Rogers through on goal, though he scuffed his shot.
Debutant Scott Devlin was also proving effective from set pieces.
As the temperature at Victoria Road continued to plummet, tempers began to flare and with more than fifteen minutes of the half still to play, away manager Paul Holt was sent to the stands by referee Andy Hall following a touchline altercation.
Sporting boss Keith Drapers wishes for his team to "work together", after seeing a number a half chances squandered and some lacklustre defensive blunders, were met when Chris Morrison headed home Chris Conway's swerving cross to put his side level going into the break.
The second half saw the floodlights switched on and the contest became more level, with the fans applauding some good end to end football. Early in the half, home defender Matt Ross rifled the ball beyond the City 'keeper but the goal was called offside. This frustration resulted in Sporting's best spell of the game with both Nash and Devlin seeing plenty of the ball and James Turk putting in an assured shift in the heart of the midfield.
As the clock ticked towards the hour mark and the game becoming stretched and scrappy, Devlin saw a powerful left-footed effort from outside the box clawed away impressively by Moore. What followed was a period of heavy challenges and altercations with both teams also utilising the counter attack. In the final seconds of normal time Draper had a shot saved comfortably by the City 'keeper.
Sporting continued to do well in the first half of extra time, creating some good chances, and Rogers was left rueing missing the best chance of the game when Nash squared to him across the box but he failed to convert.
As the game began to dwindle and the penalty shootout loomed, City's Danny Thurstance looked to be looping a ball into the box which instead swerved beyond the hands of Savage to put the visitors into the lead.
With only minutes remaining, the ever-present Snape picked up the ball inside the Sporting half and ran a good thirty yards, having turned the high lying Sporting defence, and curled a low shot beyond Savage to wrap up the win.
Overall, despite some good combination play between the likes of Nash, Devlin, Conway and Rogers, Sporting were let down by some clumsy defending and failure to convert several good chances. Morrison, despite a good finish seemed isolated for long periods of the game due to lack of good delivery.
Sporting: Tom Savage, Karl Fellows (Aaron Roberts), Jamie Parker, Matt Ross (Mike Thurbon), Nick Martin (Capt.), Scott Devlin, Jon Rogers, James Turk, Chris Conway, Chris Morrison (Keith Draper jr.), Elliot Nash
Subs not used: Nick Harris, Chris Bright
Lichfield: Ryan Moore, Richard Devalle, Jordan Hunt, Todd Perry, Sam Geffin, Chris Milner, Leon Morgan (Fabien Facey), Lewis Borne, Jacob Snape, Kyle Minto (Danny Worrell), Danny Thurstance
Subs not used: Ashley Thompson, David Humphries
