Bromsgrove Sporting were left ruing a host of missed chances as they could only manage a 1-1 draw versus Southam United in their opening fixture of the Midland Football League Division One.
Sporting seemed as though they were picking up from where they left off last season in the early stages of the game. Prolific frontman Sean Brain saw his shot from inside the box cannon off the post on the fifteen-minute mark. Frustratingly for the home side, the woodwork was to be a familiar nemesis throughout the afternoon.
The Rouslers' first league goal of the season came after half an hour. Midfield maestro Reece Hewitt saw his opportunistic shot from just inside the box go through the goalkeeper's hands and ricochet off his foot and into the bottom corner. Southam's James Cutts would not want to see a replay of that howler.
Sporting almost doubled their lead before the break. Some nice team football resulted in a shot by new signing Luke Corbett, but Cutts atoned for his earlier mistake with a solid save at his near post.
The first fifteen minutes of the second half saw Sporting continue to dominate play and test the Southam defence. Corbett was one-on-one with the keeper but put his effort wide of the post, Brain found himself in a similar position but had his shot tipped onto the upright by Cutts and another new signing, the energetic Aaron Roberts, saw his low strike saved.
Corbett failed to capitalise on another golden opportunity as he chipped the ball onto the crossbar with only the keeper to beat once again. Brain too squandered another chance only a minute later as he struck the ball against the post.
There was a sort of inevitability to Southam's goal, given how many chances we failed to take. Just shy of the 70th minute, a pinpoint corner was headed home by Kyle Turner; a real body blow for Sporting and the home faithful.
Not long after, Southam were reduced to ten men as full back Jack Brighton raised his studs in a tackle. This resulted in the away side putting almost everybody behind the ball in order to hold on for the point. Hewitt almost added to his tally but once again, the crossbar came to Southam's rescue as Cutts fumbled the ball onto it.
Sporting could have taken all three points in stoppage time but Brain and Aaron Williams couldn't find the back of the net. A frustrating game for Sporting; although it's very early days in the season, it will be deemed as two points lost as opposed to a point gained. However, plenty of new signings made their competitive debuts and many of these were promising. It may well be a matter of time before the team really starts to gel and the wins come rolling in.
Sporting: Shaun Edwards, Aaron Roberts, Brendan Kelly (Capt), Simon Fitter, Craig Jones, Jamie McKeon (Ollie Gibson 82 mins), Joe Adams (Jon Myrie 61 mins), Reece Hewitt, Luke Corbett (Chrisi Conway 61 mins), Sean Brain, Aaron Williams.
Subs not used: John Pykett, Brendan Bunn.
Goal: Reece Hewitt (30 mins)
Yellow: Sean Brain (82 mins)
Southam: James Cutts, Jack Brighton, Mike Harvey (lee Thomas 15 mins), Kevin Spencer (Capt), Matty Hunt, Max Crisp, Lee Constable (Stefan Grudzinski 82 mins), Jamie Hardie, Kyle Turner (Suki Nijjar 86 mins), Gareth Evans, Tunde Ajibade.
Subs not used: Marc Passey, Will Freeman
Goal Kyle Turner (70 mins)
Yellows: Jack Brighton (74 mins), Matty Hunt (45+2 mins), Tunde Ajibade (68 mins),
Red: Jack Brighton (two yellow 35, 74 mins)
Crowd 295
Weather: hot, sunny
Referee: Mr P Tyler (Worcester)
Assistants: Mr I Hopkins (Kidderminster)
Mr J Mortiboys (Redditch)
Sporting Man of the Match: Aaron Roberts.
