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
