Having been dumped out of two cup competitions within four days and shipping five goals it would be easy to be downhearted as a Rouslers supporter, but this was an entertaining match with a weakened Sporting team more than a match for their higher division opponents. Indeed for large periods of the game, they dominated proceedings but again were let down by failing to convert territory and possession into goals.

After playing second fiddle to their opponents for the first 10 minutes, Highgate took the lead on the 11th somewhat against the run of play when they won a corner at the far end of the ground that Lei Brown headed in off the bar from a few yards out.

Cue for Sporting to make an impact and Reece Hewitt as with previous matches this season was the man of the moment regularly picking the ball up in midfield and spraying delightful passes around to his teammates. It was such moves that gained Sporting the equaliser on 16 minutes when he played a one-two with Sam Wills to get behind the Highgate back four and with only Bradley Catlow between the sticks to beat curled his shot into the top right corner.

Highgate though were determined to regain their lead and forced Sporting 'keeper Josh Moreton into several good saves but the scores remained level at half-time.

Three minutes after the interval, James Cosgrove took a free-kick for the home side from 30 yards out. On the way it took a deflection past Moreton only to hit the post and bounce back into the keeper's welcoming arms.

With the game opening up a bit more, both sides continued to play neat football despite the damp conditions and soft pitch. Sean Brain had a couple of chances for Sporting but it was Highgate who looked more threatening as the half went on and with 70 minutes on the clock they can again consider themselves unlucky when Shane Benjamin's free-kick hit the underside of the bar that Moreton then pushed out for a corner.

However the pressure finally paid off with five minutes of normal time left. Connor Mooney put an elegant cross into the Sporting box that a virtually unmarked Shane Benjamin tapped home from 10 yards out.

Most of the crowd at this point thought it was all over but Sporting took up the challenge and with five minutes added time played, substitute Ethan Hanks evaded the Highgate back four from a free kick to slot home and send the match into extra time.

Unfortunately things didn't go well for the Rouslers, as with just four minutes played, Dale Edwards bought down Benjamin in the box. Lei Brown duly converting the spot kick Four minutes later Mooney beat two markers on the left and from the resulting cross, Benjamin fired in number four.

Hardly surprising with energy at depletion level, the pace of the game slowed considerably with chances coming mainly from long-range efforts. However there was still enough fuel in the tank for Highgate to get number five with one minute remaining courtesy of another Benjamin tap in for his hat-trick from a Mooney cross. Josh McKenzie made the scoreline a little more respectable for Sporting by netting Brain's pass on two added minutes.

There are still two more cup competitions for Sporting to win some silverware this season but league action returns to the Victoria Ground this Saturday with a match against much-improved Pelsall Villa and for Sporting an attempt to gain some ground on the leaders.

Highgate: Bradley Catlow, Tom Lacey, Trevor Edwards (Karl King 68 mins), Scott Turner, Aaron Brown (Capt.), James Cosgrove, Gavin Rodgers (Joe Adams 68 mins), Dale Taylor, Shane Benjamin, Nathan Edgington (Connor Mooney 57 mins), Lei Brown.
Substitutes not used: Nathan Pulisciano, Brad Hayward.
Goals: Rodgers (11 mins), Lei Brown (85 mins), Edgington (95 mins, penalty), Benjamin (99, 119 mins).
Yellows: Rodgers (65 mins), Aaron Brown (69 mins), Lei Brown (90+4 mins)

Sporting: Josh Moreton, James McKeon (Ryan Pierpoint 87 mins), Jack Wilson, Brendan Kelly (Capt.), Aaron Roberts, Luke Dugmore, Dale Edwards, Reece Hewitt, Connor Collins (Josh McKenzie 64 mins), Sam Wills (Ethan Hanks 87 mins), Sean Brain.
Goals: Hewitt (16 mins), Hanks (90+5 mins), McKenzie (120+2 mins)
Substitutes not used: Sam Delaney, Lucky Nwosu
Yellows: Hewitt (29 mins), Dugmore (90+4 mins)

Referee: Mr K Carroll (Acocks Green)
Assistants: Mr M Homer (Rednal), Mr C Thompson (Bromsgrove)

Crowd: ~ 150
Weather: Cool, misty

Sporting MoM: Brendan Kelly
Report: Phil Baker