Bromsgrove Sporting 2 (Reeves 4′, Jervis 72′ P)
Stratford Town 2 (Laffety 59′, Roberts 74′, Critchlow-Moyo Red Card 56′)
The ten men of Stratford Town took a point back to Warwickshire on Tuesday evening, courtesy of a 2-2 draw with Bromsgrove Sporting.
Defender Hayden Reeves headed the Rouslers into an early lead before Tionne Critchlow-Woyo was shown a straight red 56 minutes in for a rash challenge on Simeon Maye.
However, just three minutes later, Dan Lafferty levelled proceedings. Jake Jervis put Sporting back into the lead from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute, before Kory Roberts re-established parity a mere two minutes later, scoring after a corner caused all manner of problems in the Sporting box.
The woodwork was hit just two minutes in, as Adam Jasper, who was on loan with Sporting from Tamworth just weeks previous, hit the post from close range after being set up by another former Rousler, Kobe Hall.
The deadlock was broken just four minutes in, as a corner was headed into the path of Reeves, who produced a header of his own to score from yards out.
The lead was almost doubled just nine minutes later, as Brad Bood’s cross was met by Jamille Matt, who’s instinctive shot was brilliantly saved by Stratford stopper Jake Weaver.
Matt then hit the side netting with a 31st minute header, before Kieron Freeman had two chances late in the first half cleared off the line in quick succession.
Despite missing a hatful of chances in the opening 45 minutes, Critchlow-Moyo’s red card 11 minutes into the second half would presumably have buoyed Sporting – however, Lafferty’s strike from just over 20 yards out found the net with the first chance after the sending off.
A Jak Hickman cross was headed narrowly wide by Jervis in the 68th minute – both would be involved in the game’s next goal, as Jervis found the bottom corner with his spotkick after Billy Shaw was brought down in the area by Weaver, which would not have been possible had he not have been played in via a quick Hickman free kick.
Any chances of Sporting kicking on from that were quickly quelled, as Roberts scored quickly after – a corner into the box eventually fell to the Stratford defender, from which he booted the ball home.
For all that Sporting had plenty of the ball inside the final few minutes, they were unable to do much with it and ultimately had to settle for a draw.
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Entertainment Rating: 4/5
Reporter’s Player of the Match: Simeon Maye (Bromsgrove Sporting)
Attendance: 711
50/50 prize draw number: 09401
Sporting Player of the Match, as chosen by Sean Anslow and his son, from match sponsor Barrie Beard Electrical Contractors Ltd: Billy Shaw
Report: Max Banner
A selection of photos from Neil Jay
