After losing at home to Highgate on the first match of the season last August this was the match that everybody had not just looked forward to playing but winning as well. And that is how it turned out with Sporting coming away with the three points after a pulsating game.
Conditions were not perfect with a strong cross-wind blowing across an uneven and sloping pitch but Sporting were fortunate in winning the toss and electing to play with a bright low sun behind them.
Highgate though were quickly into action with Lei Brown putting a useful shot from a free-kick just over the bar with a couple of minutes on the clock. Simon Fitter responded when he went close with a free-kick on the fourth minute.
However it was the home side who took the lead again from a set piece. Tom Lacey putting a free-kick in the box from just over the halfway line. This was met by lanky Scott Turner who virtually unmarked put a clean header into the top left hand corner of the Sporting net.
The Rouslers responded quickly and pushed forward against a Highgate side who marked tightly and worked hard to close down their opponents giving them little time on the ball. Reece Hewitt was unlucky not to get the equaliser when his 20-yard half-volley hit Connor McCarthy's right-hand post.
The equaliser though did eventually come on the 20th minute when the lively Jack Wilson won a corner. This was taken by Will Tibbetts who curled a fine ball to the far post only to see it go straight in over the line. Perhaps with a little help from the gusty wind but a well-taken effort nevertheless.
Twelve minutes later, Sporting were in the lead thanks to Simon Fitter' s expertise at long-range free-kicks. He floated an inch-perfect ball in the Highgate penalty area from the centre circle. This evaded the back four and Craig Jones was on hand to slide home from a few yards out.
The home side were clearly rattled at losing their lead and this came to a head when Nathan Edgington was shown a straight red card after a late challenge on Danny Morris into the defender's ankles.
After a lively first-half, the second proceeded at a slower pace with Sporting pretty much in control and using the spare man to defend their narrow lead. Highgate did attempt to push forward but the away side's defence remained solid.
On 76 minutes, Sporting's pressure finally brought them another goal. Reece Hewitt broke free down the left side, dummied one defender then delivered a pin-point cross to an unmarked Will Tibbetts who easily headed past Connor McCarthy for his second of the game.
Manager Paul Smith brought on fresh legs in the form of Sean Brain and Chrisi Conway and their running at the tiring home defence started to cause problems and with several good moves Sporting were unlucky not to add to the scoresheet.
Finally after playing an extra five minutes, referee Mr Hubbard blew for full-time much to the relief of the 100 plus contingent of Bromsgrove fans who had witnessed Sporting's toughest match of the season.
At the end, Paul Smith said "The team had a big challenge today, we played well and we have come away with a good result. We are now looking to build on this win starting at Bolehall next week".
Highgate: Connor McCarthy, Tyrone Smith (James Loney 78 mins), Nathan Pulisciano, Dean Curtis, Scott Turner, Trevor Edwards (Capt.), Tom Lacey, Martin Crawford (Brett Fellows 87 mins), Nathan Edgington, Liam O'Shea (Connor Mooney 46 mins), Lei Brown.
Unused substitutes: Danny Rolfe, Shaun Hayes.
Goal: Scott Turner (9 mins)
Red: Nathan Edgington (36 mins)
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Ryan Mahon, Danny Morris, Simon Fitter (Capt.), Craig Jones, Scott Smith, Will Tibbetts, Reece Hewitt, Jozsef Jakab (Sean Brain 70 mins), Sam Wills (Chrisi Conway 80 mins), Jack Wilson (Lewis Clarke 64 mins).
Unused substitutes: Ross Dempster, Chris Duggan.
Scorers: Will Tibbetts (19, 77 mins), Craig Jones (33 mins),
Referee: Mr G Hubbard (Halesowen)
Assistants: Mr N Rageh (Rubery), Mr M Slater (Dudley)
Attendance: 209
Weather: Sunny, gusty.
Sporting Man of the Match: Craig Jones.
GATE UNHINGED AGAIN by Highgate United
Gates promising season looks in danger of collapsing as they suffered their third successive defeat on Saturday
A third consecutive league defeat leaves Highgate's season in danger of coming off the tracks, Bromsgrove Sporting seizing the initiative to close the gap between the two to four points but with a game in hand.
Hinckley too are back in the equation continuing their unbeaten run and extending their lead at the top to three points but having played four games more than second placed Gate. Unfortunately Saturday's second versus fourth encounter failed to live up to its top of the table billing, a game devoid of any quality going the way of the visitors who made the most of their hosts failure to defend set pieces, Gate's own cause not helped by the first half sending off of Nathan Edgington.
Sporting had recovered from a ninth minute deficit to make hard work of their win, the four goals being the only occasions either keeper had been any where near seriously troubled during what can at best be described as a disappointingly dour encounter. Gate began with Conor McCarthy back in goal, Liam O'Shea accompanying Lei Brown up front in place of the unavailable Ricardo Richards and Brett Fellows and Connor Mooney on the bench following last week's home defeat to Cadbury Athletic. Dean Curtis made a couple of safety first clearances early on, Gate then creating a half chance when Michael Crawford headed the ball on for Brown's shot to clear the bar from eight yards out.
Liam O'Shea broke away but in an off side position, whilst at the other end Simon Fitter's free kick drifted behind with Joseph Jakab close only to winning a belated Oscar with exaggerated appeals for a penalty rightly falling on deaf ears. The ninth minute was to prove the time for Gate to take the lead, Tom Lacey's free kick glancing off centre half Scott Turner's head to drift in between keeper Jake Bedford and his left hand post. The goal had come after a period of Highgate pressure, with Trevor Edwards and Lacey chasing and harassing in midfield to win any 50/50 balls, but their side was to have a let off when visiting midfielder Reece Hewitt controlled a defensive clearance before nonchalantly striking the outside of the woodwork off a twenty five yard volley.
Tyrone Smith twice quelled the threat from Jack Wilson down the left hand side, but even though Gate's play was of a higher tempo than in recent weeks the final ball was lacking with very little creativity been shown by either side. A nineteenth minute corner was to lead to the equaliser, Will Tibbetts' flag kick sailing over the heads of defenders and McCarthy alike directly into the far top corner of the net.
Gate survived a spell of Sporting pressure with Brown firing his own free kick high over the bar after being sent tumbling twenty yards out, Bedford then rising to pluck Lacey's corner off Brown's head. But for a second time the home side were to be punished from a dead ball situation Fitter's 32nd minute free kick headed back across goal by Sam Wills for Craig Jones to react quickest and force the ball in from close range.
Things were to get worse for Ashley Pulisciano's men when Edgington received a 36th minute red card for what appeared to be a reckless rather than malicious challenge, the ten men facing an uphill struggle but continuing to work hard. O'Shea twice won corners which went unpunished, the half finishing with McCarthy untroubled by Tibbetts' long range effort and Gate looking to regroup during the break as they faced a mountain to climb all of their own making against opponents who were themselves proving difficult to break down.<br>
HT Highgate United 1 v 2 Bromsgrove Sporting
Mooney replaced O'Shea at the beginning of the second half, Turner winning a header in the box but with no fellow red shirt able to react, Crawford then despatching a header goalwards blocked by a defender's boot. This was a positive start from the ten men who were more than holding their own against a Sporting side failing to make the most of the man advantage, but still there was little threat at either end, McCarthy again failing to be troubled by a Hewitt cross comfortably dealt with at the foot of the post.
Nathan Pulisciano's high up and under was headed back by Brown for Crawford to hook a first time shot wide, Lacey then not far off target after being set up by Crawford. Hewitt might count himself fortunate to have got away with just a yellow card for a challenge on Curtis not dissimilar to that which had earlier earned red, Gate continuing in search of what was to prove an elusive equaliser with Brown bursting through for an opportunity scuppered by visiting defenders in the box.
Gate were by now visibly tiring, conceding possession in midfield and undone for a third time when in 77th minute the unmarked Tibbett's sealed his side's win with a header from five yards out. Sporting finished strongly with substitute James Loney twice clearing attempts off the line, the visitors recording an undistinguished victory and defeated Gate knowing that with eleven matches remaining fate is not only in their hands but those of others over whom they have no control, but with both teams needing to show much improvement if eithers promotion ambitions are to be realised.
Highgate United: McCarthy; Smith (Loney 78); Pulisciano; Turner; Curtis; Edwards; Lacey; Crawford ( Fellows 86); Edgington; O'Shea (Mooney 45); Brown; Substitutes not used: Rolfe; Hayes
Bromsgrove Sporting: Jake Bedford; Ryan Mahon; Daniel Morris; Simon Fitter; Craig Jones; Scott Smith; Will Tibbetts; Reece Hewitt; Joseph Jakab; Sam Wills; Jack Wilson; Substitutes: Lewis Clarke; Ross Dempster; Chris Conway; Sean Brain; Chris Duggan
