Bromsgrove Sporting notched up their second win in four days, with a 3-1 league win over fellow promotion hunters Didcot Town at the Victoria Ground.

In a battle of 2nd vs 5th, goals in either half from Jason Cowley and a header from Craig Jones steered Sporting to victory, with Callum McNish scoring for the visitors, in a result which mirrored the scoreline when the original fixture was abandoned due to floodlight failure last month.

The opening stages were generally cagey, with neither team able to get a true foothold in the game - Cowley had a couple of chances inside the first 30 minutes, with one drawing a decent save from keeper Leigh Bedwell, whilst Josh Quaynor had a free kick from an inviting position comfortably dealt with by the Didcot stopper.

The deadlock was broken 37 minutes in, as a wonderfully lofted ball from Liam Spink found Cowley in space, who rifled home hard and low with aplomb.

The lead was doubled in the 62nd minute, as a free kick from Quaynor of pinpoint accuracy found the head of Jones, who had no bother in finding the goal. The centre back clearly enjoys playing against Didcot, given he also scored in December's abandoned fixture.

Substitute Cameron Peters and debutant Kieren Westwood had opportunities to make it three inside the final ten minutes, but both hit wayward shots from the edge of the area.

Didcot's first meaningful effort of the game came in the first minute of injury time, as McNish capitalised on Sporting's inability to clear their lines with a well struck effort into the bottom corner that gave Jono Brown no chance in the Sporting goal. However, this was only a small dampener on what was a fine evening for the Bromsgrove back line.

The result was put beyond any doubt five minutes into injury time, as endeavour from Peters saw Westwood take control of the ball, who set up Cowley to slot home coolly past Bedwell.

With the possible hoodoo of the abandoned game lingering and Didcot's eight match unbeaten run beforehand, this was undoubtedly a very big victory for the Rouslers.

Unbeaten run comes to an end

By Ian East

Diddy's 8 game unbeaten run ended by high flying Bromsgrove Sporting.

Didcot's 8 match unbeaten run came to a halt on Tuesday evening after a 3-1 loss at 2nd placed Bromsgrove Sporting, the final scoreline being somewhat ironically the same score as the first encounter between these 2 sides that was ended by floodlight failure at half time.

The Railwaymen were given the rare luxury of naming an unchanged side from the team that had won convincingly at Aylesbury Utd, however there were to be none of the same early fireworks as both teams struggled to get their game going. Bromsgrove looked the more likely but some desperate defending by Carnell and Learoyd kept the hosts at bay.

It took until the 34th minute for their to be a real noteworthy attempt from either side, Leigh Bedwell in the Didcot goal had to be at his best to turn a low shot to his left around the post and then caught the resultant corner to keep Didcot at level terms. 2 minutes later however the hosts did take the lead, a long raking cross field ball from the right hand side sailed over the Didcot defence and landed at the feet of Jason Cowley at the back post, the forward took once touch and rifled a left footed shot below Bedwell and into the corner to give Bromsgrove the advantage.

There was still little coming from Didcot in terms of their own attacking threat in fact it took until first half stoppage time for the Railwaymen to have their first meaningful effort as John Dennis put a left footed shot over the bar.

Half time. Bromsgrove Sporting 1-0 Didcot Town

Whatever was said in the Diddy dressing room at half time seemed to have an impact as it was Didcot who forced the early play without really creating much of note, the passing was better as Didcot committed more men forward and Lance Williams had a claim for a penalty when Greg Hackett's cut back looked to find the forward but he was challenged from behind by Jack Wilson who prodded the ball away at the same time as challenging Williams.

The sucker punch then came in the 61st minute, just as Didcot were looking the stronger of the sides Bromsgrove won a dubious free kick and the ball was whipped into the box and straight onto the head of the unmarked Craig Jones and the centre back powered a header passed Bedwell for 2-0 from the first real chance Bromsgrove had in the 2nd half.

Didcot then rang the changes as Taverner, Morgan Williams and David Murphy were all introduced as Didcot changed shape and went desperately in search of a way back into the contest. Bromsgrove happy with their lead were defending extremely well limiting Didcot to pot shots from distance and defending the long throws and corners with relative ease.

The clock ticked into the 90th minute and Didcot managed to get their goal, Taverner attempted a shot from the edge of the box that was blocked but the ball ballooned up to Callum McNish who smartly volleyed the ball home first time from Didcot's only real attempt on target. It still set up a potentially frantic last couple of minutes of the game. Didcot now with everyone forward hurled a long throw into the box which was scrambled clear and suddenly Sporting were on the break, a clever pass through set Cowley clear and he slotted the ball home to wrap up the points for the hosts.

Full Time Bromsgrove Sporting 3-1 Didcot Town

Didcot Team: Bedwell, Barder, McNeill, Hayden (Murphy), Carnell, Learoyd, Dennis, McNish, L Williams, Humphries (Taverner), Hackett (M Williams)
Subs not used: Gardner, Ballard