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Sat 9th Aug 2014 @ 15:00 - Victoria Ground Attendance: 285
Bromsgrove Sporting
3 - 2
Atherstone Town
Referee: Mr. G. Walker (Redditch) Midland Football League / Division 1

Goalscorers
Josh McKenzie (72)
Dave Almond (85)
Luke Shearer (90)
Simeon Smith (19)
George Brindley (69)
Starting Line-ups
Jake Bedford
Chris Duggan
Craig Jones
Dan Parker
Aaron Williams
Will Tibbetts
Rico Taylor
Robbie Ager
Daniel Ludlow
Luke Shearer
Josh McKenzie
Alex Horton
Christian Mullings
Ashley Gray
Dave Alsop
Matthew Stanley
Darren Eggleton
George Brindley
Danny Guant
Simeon Smith
Connor Leek
Lee Smith
Substitutes
Adam Went
Kieran Pace
Max Bevis
Jason Newton
Dave Almond
Kiel Mullen
Hayden Wright
Ross Innes
Substitutions
Dave Almond -> Rico Taylor (70)
Kieran Pace -> Aaron Williams (80)
None
Yellow cards
None Ashley Gray (57)
George Brindley (64)
Lee Smith (65)
Red cards
None None
Match Report | How They Saw It | Programme
Occasionally there comes along a sporting occasion where the unexpected happens, there is enormous drama and it will remain in memories for a long time. This match was one of those occasions.

After the traumas of the previous 24 hours with manager Adrian Mander resigning from his post, coaches Les Palmer and Ross Collins assisted by football development manager, Graham Scott assembled a team together despite losing Sean Williams to Hinckley AFC and several absences due to injuries, holidays and work commitments.

Playing uphill, Atherstone had the bulk of the play for the first few minutes and should have gone ahead on the 7th when busy midfielder and former Sporting youth player Connor Leek put a great cross into the box that striker Simeon Smith side-footed on to the bar only to see it bounce out.

However, the visitors continued their dominance and took the lead on 19 minutes when Smith beat the Sporting offside trap and slotted home after beating 'keeper Jake Bedford in a one-to-one.
After the half-time break, Atherstone had another couple of good chances that went begging before Will Tibbetts created the home side's first real opportunity with a quality cross into the penalty area but Luke Shearer failed to control with an open goal at his mercy.

Five minutes later Rico Taylor did manage to get in a good shot forcing Adders keeper Alex Horton to tip over. Atherstone then got the ball in the net but it was disallowed for offside on 62 minutes.

Sporting at this point were getting themselves more in into the game and the hard-working Josh McKenzie went wide with a good effort.

However it was the visitors who doubled their lead on the 69th minute. This time it was George Brindley who got behind the back four and fired home from 15 yards out.

A good move forced Alex Horton into a difficult save that he nearly carried into his own net and at this point Sporting looked to be short of ideas but there was still some determination showing. This outlook paid dividends on the 72nd minute when McKenzie finally got his head to a good cross from Tibbetts. Horton only managed to tip it on the bar but the lanky striker easy tapped home the rebound to get Sporting back into the match.

Burly striker Dave Almond substituted the tiring Rico Taylor and immediately started to unsettle the Atherstone defence with his presence in the box and it was he who got Sporting equaliser on 84 minutes with a superbly executed diving header from Will Tibbetts corner.

Two minutes into added time Atherstone striker Simeon Smith should have settled the match when he shot wide when it was easier to put into the net. His team must have regretted that miss as from the goal kick Sporting raced upfield. Luke Shearer dummied a couple of defenders then chipped the ball into the top right hand corner of the net, giving Sporting the lead. Seconds later Mr Walker blew for full-time to the loudest cheer heard at the Victoria Ground for some time.

Sporting then managed to gain a totally unexpected victory particularly as their tank looked empty after Atherstone's second goal. After the match, coach Les Palmer praised the fighting sprit of his team, "I thought we were dead and buried at 69 minutes but Josh's persistence got us back in the game. Having a noisy crowd behind us helped our confidence and get two more goals to win. A great day at the Victoria Ground".

Sporting (Red/white shirts, blue shorts, blue socks): Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan, Danny Ludlow, Craig Jones, Danny Parker (Capt.), Aaron Williams (Kieran Pace 81 mins), Will Tibbetts, Danny Agar, Josh McKenzie, Luke Shearer, Rico Taylor (Dave Almond 75 mins).
Subs not used: Jason Newton, Max Bevis, Adam Went.
Scorers: Josh McKenzie (72 mins), Dave Almond (85 mins), Luke Shearer (90+3 mins).

Atherstone (Yellow/black shirts and shorts, black socks): Alex Horton, Christian Mullings, Ashley Gray, Dave Alsop Matthew Stanley, Darren Eggleton, George Brindley, Danny Gaunt, Simeon Smith, Connor Leek, Lee Smith (Capt.)
Subs not used: Kiel Mullen, Hayden Wright, Ross Iness
Scorers: Simeon Smith (19 mins), George Brindley (69 mins)
Yellows: George Brindley (64 mins), Lee Smith (64 mins)

Referee: Mr G Walker (Redditch)
Assistants: Mr D Stokes (Bromsgrove), Mr C Thompson (Lickey)

Crowd: 285
Weather: Warm, sunny.
Sporting Man of the Match: Josh McKenzie
Match Report: Phil Baker