Bromsgrove Sporting were narrowly defeated in their Bank Holiday league fixture against high flying Lichfield City. All the goals came in the first half but the whole game was eventful and a strong test for Myles Day's side. Particularly, having to play the title favourites so early in Sporting's inaugural season.
City started strongly and looked likely to overrun Sporting in the first few minutes. Some good defending and a positive attitude meant Sporting started to get to grips with their opponents and should have gone ahead when keeper Edwards made a great one handed save to his left when a goal seemed certain.
Sporting did go ahead when, on 17 minutes a through ball was nudged past the keeper by Maynard who was then brought down by the keeper. Maynard, himself, stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way with the resulting penalty to make it 1 - 0. A couple of minutes later another trip in the box went unrewarded as the referee waved away Sporting appeals for what seemed a stronger case for a penalty than the one granted.
Sporting-s lead lasted barely 5 minutes as Lichfield scored an equaliser on the break. The Sporting offside trap was sprung on the left side of defence and Hodgkins ran on to lash the ball past Mole in the Sporting goal. Unfortunately, on 37 minutes an almost identical break meant the Sporting left back was outflanked and this time Dutton smashed the ball home to give Lichfield a lead they would not surrender.
In the second half Lichfield relied upon the pace of winger Russell to cause more problems for Sporting's defence. Lichfield missed a couple of decent chances and Sporting had few opportunities to hit the opposition quickly enough to cause much concern in the Lichfield defence. Sporting's best chance was a header over by substitute Wilkes from a corner as the keeper missed the cross.
The game should have been wrapped up before the end as Lichfield gained a penalty for a trip in the area but the strike was high over the bar. Unable to penetrate the Lichfield defence, Sporting were left with half chances and on the final whistle a 2 - 1 win for the Staffordshire side was a fair reflection of the game.
Sporting team; Mole, Milicev, Rogers G, McKeon, Griffiths (capt.), Patrick, Bright, Rogers J, James, Maynard, Blood. Subs 12 Woolman,17 Allen, 14 Wilkes G, 15 Howles, 16 Molesworth.
Lichfield team: D Edwards, D McLeoud, W Evans, M Green (capt), J Lawson, D Worrall, T Evans, L Bourne, J-R Dutton, D Hodgkins, J Russell. Subs; 12 T Ivors, 17 T Dutton, 14 R Burnside, 15 S Deeley, 16 J Murphy
