Sporting put on a spirited display, coming back from a goal down and with ten men to beat a well-organised Southam United side.
Former Rousler George Curry came back to haunt his old team by putting United 1-0 up but a splendid strike from Elliot Nash and a late finish from Jovan Blake-Walker saw the home side take the win.

Sporting started in a lively manner, the pace and strength of Blake-Walker in particular causing problems for the away defence. However, inside the first ten minutes he spooned a good chance over the bar from a yard out after a decent squared ball from Keith Draper.

A couple of minutes later Nash capitalised on a mix up in the United defence to break through on goal, but his through ball to Andy Nicol resulted in a scuffed shot into goalkeeper, Ollie Manuel's hands. Nicol then went on a good solo effort down the left flank, cutting into the box, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Sporting continued to apply the pressure and Draper stung Manuel's hands with a powerful effort from outside the box. The winger was then booked minutes later by referee Kevin Carroll for a clumsy challenge in his own half.

Southam were beginning to pass the ball around well in the midfield, frustrating the home players and leading to some mistimed challenges, but the away side were far from clinical in front of goal. The strikers were sending several wild shots wide and midfielder Chris Hayden even cleared the north stand with a desperate effort.

But it was United who took the lead on thirty-five minutes when Curry skilfully turned several Sporting defenders and drove into the box, finishing cheekily in the bottom corner.

The Rouslers, however, were not deterred and on forty two-minutes Nash sent a brilliant curling effort into the top corner from thirty yards to level the scores before half-time.
The second half saw Southam introduce Simeon Smith for striker Howard Forinton.

The away side then began to pepper Sporting 'keeper Reece Francis' goal with some much better efforts, the impressive Curry turned and shot from inside the box, skimming the post and leaving Francis out at sea. Home defender Chris Gleadow then put in a clumsy challenge inside the box, though it went unpunished.
At the other end Bradley Whitehouse, making his full home debut, found Nash well with a clinical through ball, but the winger sent his shot into the side netting.

With an hour played Nash was then harshly shown a straight red for a mistimed challenge on the half-way line, leaving Sporting with only ten-men.
But they continued to battle, not long after Nick Harris sent a powerful free-kick on target, forcing Manuel into a smart save. Only a few minutes later, he had an almost identical effort palmed wide by the away 'keeper.

Southam looked to have won the game as the match went into the final twenty-five minutes when Smith burst through on goal, squaring it to Curry, though Sporting's Gleadow did well to get back and slide the ball away.

But it was Blake-Walker who would settle the tie, pouncing on the ball inside the box to coolly pass it in after Andy Nicol had fired it at the 'keeper, causing him to spill. The Southam defence complained that Nicol's slide on Manuel to allow the ball through to Blake-Walker had been unlawful, but the referee awarded the goal.

For the final five minutes Sporting really had to dig deep to stave off a United equaliser and record a deserved home win.
Sporting: Reece Francis, Aaron Roberts, Gareth Davies, Chris Gleadow, Chris Morrison (c), Nick Harris, Elliot Nash, Bradley Whitehouse (Jon Rogers, 65), Jovan Blake-Walker Andy Nicol, Keith Draper
Subs not used: Matt Ross, Adam Humphries, Ryan Gardiner, Alex Byatt

Southam United: Ollie Manuel, Brad Rees (Michael Clough, 88), Lee Thomas, Martin Thompson (c), Josh Cole, Chris Hayden, Pavel Tomczak, Casey Gaggini, Howard Forinton (Simeon Smith, 45), George Curry, Jim Graham (Marc Passey, 75)
Subs not used: Joe Williams, Jamie Welsh