Occasionally there comes along a sporting occasion where the unexpected happens, there is enormous drama and it will remain in memories for a long time. This match was one of those occasions.
After the traumas of the previous 24 hours with manager Adrian Mander resigning from his post, coaches Les Palmer and Ross Collins assisted by football development manager, Graham Scott assembled a team together despite losing Sean Williams to Hinckley AFC and several absences due to injuries, holidays and work commitments.
Playing uphill, Atherstone had the bulk of the play for the first few minutes and should have gone ahead on the 7th when busy midfielder and former Sporting youth player Connor Leek put a great cross into the box that striker Simeon Smith side-footed on to the bar only to see it bounce out.
However, the visitors continued their dominance and took the lead on 19 minutes when Smith beat the Sporting offside trap and slotted home after beating 'keeper Jake Bedford in a one-to-one.
After the half-time break, Atherstone had another couple of good chances that went begging before Will Tibbetts created the home side's first real opportunity with a quality cross into the penalty area but Luke Shearer failed to control with an open goal at his mercy.
Five minutes later Rico Taylor did manage to get in a good shot forcing Adders keeper Alex Horton to tip over. Atherstone then got the ball in the net but it was disallowed for offside on 62 minutes.
Sporting at this point were getting themselves more in into the game and the hard-working Josh McKenzie went wide with a good effort.
However it was the visitors who doubled their lead on the 69th minute. This time it was George Brindley who got behind the back four and fired home from 15 yards out.
A good move forced Alex Horton into a difficult save that he nearly carried into his own net and at this point Sporting looked to be short of ideas but there was still some determination showing. This outlook paid dividends on the 72nd minute when McKenzie finally got his head to a good cross from Tibbetts. Horton only managed to tip it on the bar but the lanky striker easy tapped home the rebound to get Sporting back into the match.
Burly striker Dave Almond substituted the tiring Rico Taylor and immediately started to unsettle the Atherstone defence with his presence in the box and it was he who got Sporting equaliser on 84 minutes with a superbly executed diving header from Will Tibbetts corner.
Two minutes into added time Atherstone striker Simeon Smith should have settled the match when he shot wide when it was easier to put into the net. His team must have regretted that miss as from the goal kick Sporting raced upfield. Luke Shearer dummied a couple of defenders then chipped the ball into the top right hand corner of the net, giving Sporting the lead. Seconds later Mr Walker blew for full-time to the loudest cheer heard at the Victoria Ground for some time.
Sporting then managed to gain a totally unexpected victory particularly as their tank looked empty after Atherstone's second goal. After the match, coach Les Palmer praised the fighting sprit of his team, "I thought we were dead and buried at 69 minutes but Josh's persistence got us back in the game. Having a noisy crowd behind us helped our confidence and get two more goals to win. A great day at the Victoria Ground".
Sporting (Red/white shirts, blue shorts, blue socks): Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan, Danny Ludlow, Craig Jones, Danny Parker (Capt.), Aaron Williams (Kieran Pace 81 mins), Will Tibbetts, Danny Agar, Josh McKenzie, Luke Shearer, Rico Taylor (Dave Almond 75 mins).
Subs not used: Jason Newton, Max Bevis, Adam Went.
Scorers: Josh McKenzie (72 mins), Dave Almond (85 mins), Luke Shearer (90+3 mins).
Atherstone (Yellow/black shirts and shorts, black socks): Alex Horton, Christian Mullings, Ashley Gray, Dave Alsop Matthew Stanley, Darren Eggleton, George Brindley, Danny Gaunt, Simeon Smith, Connor Leek, Lee Smith (Capt.)
Subs not used: Kiel Mullen, Hayden Wright, Ross Iness
Scorers: Simeon Smith (19 mins), George Brindley (69 mins)
Yellows: George Brindley (64 mins), Lee Smith (64 mins)
Referee: Mr G Walker (Redditch)
Assistants: Mr D Stokes (Bromsgrove), Mr C Thompson (Lickey)
Crowd: 285
Weather: Warm, sunny.
Sporting Man of the Match: Josh McKenzie
Match Report: Phil Baker
Bromsgrove had an early scare when a Lee Smith header thumped the cross bar in the 5th minute. Indeed it was Adders who took the lead in the 19th minute. A long diagonal pass from Danny Gaunt found Simeon Smith 20yds out. He controlled the ball on his chest before thumping it under Jake Bedford. The home side dominated the midfield but could offer only long range shots at the Adders goal. Their best chance saw Alex Horton block a close range Luke Shearer effort. George Brindley's superb cross found Simeon Smith 6yds out but he headed just over after 31 minutes.
Half Time: 0-1
Danny Gaunt's close control earned the Adders midfielder a shot at goal after 48 minutes but his effort flew just wide. At the other end Will Tibbetts and Rico Taylor both had long range shots tipped over by Alex Horton. Ashley Gray seemed to have increased the Adders lead poking the ball home at the far post only to see the assistants flag raised. However in the 68th minute a Lee Smith through ball found George Brindley and he blasted the ball passed Bedford from 8yds. Adders defence though found the Bromsgrove attack too much in the last twenty minutes. In the 71st minute Alex Horton did well to touch a cross onto the bar but it fell for Josh McKenzie to head in. Then after 84 minutes David Almond stooped to head in a corner at the near post. Simeon Smith still had time to give the Adders the three points but his shot with just the 'keeper to beat went well wide. Bromsgrove grabbed the winner in the second minute of injury time when Luke Shearer headed in at the far post.
Full Time: 3-2
Incidentally, all the officials came from within a few miles of the ground. Although all had reasonable games surely this cannot be correct even if does keep their expenses down.
Author: Martyn Roberts
