Historically Bank Holiday football is usually the most entertaining and the travelling Bromsgrove fans were expecting something along those lines as they went up against local opposition Sutton Coldfield FC.
Bromsgrove kicked off and attacked "The Royals" straight away, winning a corner. From the corner a loose ball found Jason Cowley but he couldn't find the net. Sporting continued to progress into Sutton's half, playing some more eye-catching football, the likes of which, won Sporting their game against Kidlington.
Nathan Hayward made room for a cross and found Jason Cowley but a wayward header denied Sporting a goal. Sutton Coldfield got on to the attack with a superb long throw into the box. Sporting's defenders were able to gather the ball and get it away, keeping them alive in the game. Soon after, a challenge on a Sutton midfield led to Captain Craig Jones receiving a yellow card. The free kick flew into the Sporting penalty area along with the safe hands of Jono Brown who leapt out of the air to make the catch.
Back on the front foot, Bromsgrove Sporting won a free kick of their own. Aaron Roberts zipped the cross in but again the target was missed. "The Royals" played out from the back and won a throw. Again the long throw found a Sutton shirt, that time to Omar Haughton who struck a volley straight over the bar.
Sporting battled back into the game by playing more passing football. A pass found Josh Quaynor who shot into the direction of Will Shorrock. The ball however was inches away from Shorrock's feet and he couldn't get the shot away.
Charlie Dowd won the ball and beat a flurry of tackles from Sutton defenders with excellent pace and skill. He fired in a looping cross but couldn't locate a Sporting shirt.
As Sporting lost the ball with defenders up the field they allowed Sutton Coldfield to capitalise. A floated pass landed at Mat Hearsey's feet, who then slotted the ball past Jono Brown to take "The Royals" into the lead just on the stroke of half time.
Sporting came out into the second half attacking. Early into the half a penalty appeal didn't go Bromsgrove's way and let Sutton Coldfield play out from the back again. Sutton found room to hit Jono Brown with a wave of shots but pressure from Morris and Roberts softened the blow, making it easier for Brown to make an incredible save.
Back up the pitch, Sporting won another free kick that nearly found the net but Sutton's Lee Smith made a huge clearance that gave Sporting a corner. The corner found no one. As the clock ticked on Sporting, the fans needed that one goal to not only level the score but brighten up a tough afternoon.
Sporting tried to play long, over the top balls into the Sutton half but it wasn't working. One long ball lead to a challenge on John Pykett, winning a crucial free kick for Sporting. Josh Quaynor stepped up and from long range found the net sending Sporting fans into near meltdown. Levelling the scores at 1-1. Sutton tried to get themselves back in the game with more attacking play but couldn't find that all important goal.
The referee then called it a day sending both teams home with a point. Probably the toughest fixture so far for Bren Kelly and Andy Mason. Some excellent football was played but gave Sporting fans a glimpse of just how tough this new league could potentially get. A lot to assess and take in as Sporting now prepare for Aylesbury FC on Saturday.
Report by Josh Waldron.
