The Pitching-In Southern League Premier Division Central, Saturday 25th February 2023, 3:00 p.m. kick-off

Tamworth 1 (1) Bromsgrove Sporting 0 (0) at The Lamb Ground

Bromsgrove Sporting took a trip to league leaders Tamworth this past weekend in hopes of three points, though the odds were stacked highly against them writes Shaunna-Grace Murphy.

Manager Mike McGrath was unavailable due to a two-match suspension, in-form defender Jack Newell failed a late fitness test, Callum King-Harmes was also unavailable and Nathan Kabeya had been recalled to his parent club, Lincoln City, leaving The Rouslers squad depth very minimal.

The game started very evenly with both sides defending well. Sporting captain Tom Taylor made a few excellent blocks as well as Ollie Taylor who continued to save like a cat. However it was Ammar Dyer who kept Bromsgrove in the match with a header off the line from Tamworth's Callum Cockerill-Mollett.

Ollie Taylor was also in form a few minutes later with a low save at the right-hand post following an excellent header from Alex Collard.

Controversy however came on the 41st minute as Tamworth opened the scoring when Sporting were awarded a free-kick. Dyer appeared to tap to ball to Ollie Taylor to take but referee, Mr Conde assumed the ball was in play and allowed Dan Creaney to capitalise on Taylor being off his line, intercepted the ball and put it in the back of the net.

The Sporting side came out with confidence in the second half with Jack Tolley and Brandon Smalley both forcing Lambs' 'keeper Jasbir Singh into good low saves. However they struggled in the final third of the pitch to get the ball over the line. Ollie Taylor made another magnificent save in the dying minutes tipping over from Jamie Willetts but the home side were prevented from increasing their advantage.

Unfortunately, despite an accomplished performance with a heavily changed team, Sporting were unable to take anything from the game despite deserving a point from the proceedings.

On a positive note though, the game saw academy player Blake Kindred make his debut for the side having shown commendable professionalism over the last few weeks travelling with the squad. He is most certainly one to watch for the future.

Sporting line-up: Ollie Taylor, Ammar Dyer, Ayo Lekuti, Joe Curtis, Tom Taylor (Capt), Kartell Dawkins, Lewis Wright (Conor Tee 66 mins), Mo Sebbeh (Dewain Sewell 79 mins), Jack Tolley, Brandon Smalley, Miro Pais (Blake Kindred 88 mins). Unused substitute: Adam Marusiak.

Referee: Mr J Conde

Crowd: 925

Sporting Man of the Match: Tom Taylor.