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Wed 26th Dec 2012 @ 12:30 - King George V Playing Field Attendance: 100
Pershore Town
2 - 2
Bromsgrove Sporting
Referee: Mr. J. Widdett (Worcester) Midland Combination / Premier Division

Goalscorers
Zac Blood (12)
Richard Congrave (43)
Matt Ross (54)
Andy Nicol (65)
Starting Line-ups
Matt Davis
Danny Janes
Steve Webb
Quentin Townsend
Craig Selby
Matt Murphy
Sean Cook
Dane Adlington
Richard Congrave
Scott Finnegan
Zac Blood
Tom Savage
Aaron Roberts
Nick Harris
Matt Ross
Chris Gleadow
Keith Draper
James Turk
Elliot Nash
Chris Morrison
Jonathon Rogers
Andy Nicol
Substitutes
Ben Hayes
James Rogers
Jacob Saunders
Gary Joynes
Matt Oliver
Chris Bright
Danny Deehan
Jamie Parker
Adam Humphries
Chris Conway
Substitutions
Jacob Saunders -> Danny Janes (61) Jamie Parker -> Keith Draper (46)
Chris Conway -> Chris Morrison (46)
Yellow cards
None None
Red cards
None None
Match Report | Programme
With the nearby river overflowing into adjacent fields, full marks went to the Pershore groundsman for getting the pitch into a playable state when pretty well all other non-league football was flooded out. The surface though was very heavy and from the start it was obvious that free and fast flowing football was not going to be the order of the day.

Sporting lined up with a new centre-back Chris Gleadow who comes in with experience of having played for Whitley Bay in Northern League One whilst at the other end, Pershore had the vastly experienced former Rover Quentin Townsend in defence and former Rousler Zac Blood on the wing.

The home side made the brighter start and could have been a goal up in less than a minute had Scott Finigan's shooting been more on target but he fired over the bar. However they did not have to wait much longer to get their noses in front. There were 12 minutes on the clock when James Turk lost the ball in midfield to Richard Congrave. The Sporting back four were slow getting back allowing the Pershore striker to pass to an unmarked Zac Blood who easily beat Sporting 'keeper Savage from just 10 yards out.

That was something of a wake up call to Sporting who attempted to retain possession with more patient build-ups. However they were still giving the ball away too much in the middle and when the forwards did get any service, they were unable to make much impact.

Pershore got their second three minutes before half-time and again in circumstances that gives coaches nightmares. A back pass found its way to the Sporting 'keeper but as Savage attempted to move the ball forward, Richard Congarve a got a toe to it and all he had to do was follow the ball past the hapless keeper and simply walk it into the net with the away defence stranded up-field.

Sporting were clearly under-performing so something had to be done and somebody had to pay. The unfortunates were Chris Morrison and Keith Draper who had both been struggling; they were substituted after half-time by Jamie Parker and Chrisi Conway. The latter making his return after injury.

The capable Irishman make an immediate impact firstly setting up Andy Nicol who fired wide then seeing his own 25-yard effort go just over the bar. Sporting's improved play finally brought dividends on 54 minutes when Elliot Nash floated over a corner which Pershore 'keeper Matt Davis completely misjudged as it sailed over his head to the feet of Matt Ross who gratefully tapped home from short range.

Ten minutes later there were appeals for an equaliser when Nash's shot was cleared by the Pershore defence but the Bromsgrove forward thought it had crossed the line. However Mr Widdett did not agree. Less than a minute later though, Sporting evened things up when Andy Nicol's shot bounced off a defender's thigh but only back to the lively striker who made no mistake the second time with a shot blasted into the roof of the net.

Both teams worked quite hard in the closing stages to get the winner but the sticky pitch was taking it toll on tired legs and all promising moves came to nothing apart from one brave effort by Nicol four minutes into added time who attempted an over head kick only for it to go wide of the right hand post.

In the end a point gained for Sporting after a poor first half. Pershore will be disappointed not to have held on to their lead but really across the full ninety minutes of play, a draw was a fair result for both sides.

Ironically the point along with other matches being postponed puts Sporting on top of the League but second place Walsall Wood are just a point behind and have six matches in hand.

Pershore: Matt Davis, Danny Jones (Ben Hayes 61 mins), Steve Webb, Quentin Townsend, Craig Selby, Matt Murphy, Sean Cook, Dana Aldington, Richard Congrave, Scott Finigan, Zac Blood.
Subs not used: James Rogers, Jake Saunders, Gary Joynes, Matt Oliver

Sporting: Tom Savage, Aaron Roberts, Nick Harris, Matt Ross (capt.), Chris Gleadow, James Turk, Elliot Nash, Andy Nicol, Chris Morrison (Chrisi Conway 46 mins), Jon Rogers, Keith Draper Jnr (Jamie Parker 46 mins).
Subs not used: Danny Deehan, Chris Bright, Adam Humphries.