Match Report: Bromsgrove Sporting 2 vs 2 Atherstone Town

Bromsgrove Sporting 2 vs 2 Atherstone Town

Reported By Conor Rees

12/01/2013

Photos by Andre Roberts of http://www.harrierimaging.co.uk/ 

Bromsgrove Sporting were forced to settle for a point against third placed Atherstone Town after a superb curling free kick from the away side at the Victoria ground.

Bromsgrove Sporting had the better chances and took the lead twice in the game but the home side failed to hold the lead due to careless challenges.

Atherstone’s first goal came from a penalty that was border line on the edge of the box late in the first half. 

The second half was more of a cagey affair with possession being fairly equal. Bromsgrove Sporting did find the net early on in the second half through Andy Nicol but the away side soon cancelled that out through Chris Sockett’s breath-taking free kick. Bromsgrove will be disappointed not to have got all three points after both goals coming from fouls.

Sportings Andy Nicol had the first real chance of the game after his shot inside the box was parried just around the post for a corner.

Bromsgrove Sporting continued the pressure and should have taken the lead 17 minutes in after Elliot Nash fired the ball towards the far top corner of the goal, though the powerful shot was just over.

Lawrence O’Neil created the first chance for Atherstone but the effort failed to hit the target after they suffered the set-back of having defender Stephen Sadler stretchered off.

Bromsgrove’s pressure did eventually pay off. They took the lead after Chris Morrison reacted and headed the ball into an open net after a failed clearance from Atherstone’s goalkeeper Robert Dolman.

Atherstone denied Sporting to go into the break with the lead though due to a carless tackle from Matt Ross. Atherstone was awarded a penalty that was converted from Ashley Wilks to equalise.

Bromsgrove had one last chance in the first half to take the lead but a fantastic save from Robert Dolman denied the home side.

In the second half it was Bromsgrove that started the better side after they took the lead 5 minutes from the re-start. Andy Nicol’s shot on the far side of the goal rocketed across Robert Dolman into the top corner to again give Sporting the lead.

Both teams had a few more chances but nothing too troubling in the second half until another carless tackle from Bromsgrove outside the box.

Atherstone’s Captain Chris Sockett stepped up and curled a superb free kick over the wall and the ball dipped into the top corner of the net to equalise for a second time for the away side. Bromsgrove had one final chance but their effort hit the woodwork. 

Photographs taken by André Roberts

Bromsgrove will be disappointed with not taking all three points from the game but they still remain top of the league though all the teams around them have many games in hand.