F.A.Vase 2nd Round. Qualifying. BROMSGROVE SPORTING 2 TIPTON TOWN 1
A season already fraught with Management and player replacements so early in the campaign might just have begun to gel into something far more positive for the Black Country club as a trio of former playing stalwarts for the club, Nicky Pugh, Paul Henley and Wes Cox began their turn as a concerted group determined to reverse the lowly fortunes already well-ingrained this new season.
Former stars for the club, Mike Wardle and Ben Hadley brought an urgency to the team's play that had been missing this season, the remaining contingent responding positively to dispel the ineptitude of previous fixtures this season and give the eventual winners quite a run for their money.
Early pressure naturally came from Sporting, urged on by a voluble but fair contingent of spectators recorded as 278 but the visitors defended extremely well giving the Black Country club some surety to build upon. Most certainly much of the attacking was done by the home club but a couple of sharp responses engineered by skipper, Mike Wardle, and young Sam Hesson helped sew more than a little concern in the minds of their hosts.
After Sam Wills had spurned a great opportunity to put the home side ahead in the 22nd.min.,Hesson whipped a shot across home keeper, Jake Bedford, the ball just shaving the far post as Tiptonrefused to be cowed. Indeed in a spell full of meritorious effort Tipton then silenced a quite ardent home crowd by taking the lead in the 26th.min. when Ble Pangne coolly worked his way into the home penalty area before smoothly slotting home.
Back came Sporting with renewed vigour and, urged on by great local support, Chris Conway and Wills made great inroads into the visitor's penalty area before splendid anticipation by Tipton's Robbie Duffield halted their progress.
Ryan Mahon was deservedly yellow-carded in the 41st min. for a shocking tackle on Hesson , the Tipton midfielder receiving extensive treatment before being able to resume. With Sporting now striving to find an equaliser Jordan Bladen was forced to concede a corner just on half-time, Jamie Moore heading the resultant flag-kick clear.
A resurgent Sporting began the second half in determined fashion both Wills and Sean Brain turning the Tipton defence but just failing to profit from their exigencies. In the 52nd min. Mike Wardle, who otherwise had a sterling game for Tipton, fluffed his lines when he missed from close range after Perry and Hesson had created the opening. Two injuries followed thereafter for Tipton, Pangnesuffered a blow to his head in the 54th.min and closely following, keeper,Matt Martin received a head injury also after contesting a low cross with the onrushing Conway.
Upon the restart Clayton Peddie had the give way for Tipton as Sporting upped their game still further. The home side went near to breaching Tipton's resistance in the 64th.min, Reece Hewitt heading just over but within a minute had tied up the scores with a far post header by Conway from an inviting left wing cross.
Tipton were now having to withstand serious pressure as Sporting sought to win the tie aided enormously by their voluble spectators. Tipton sadly fell behind in the 70th.min.when Pagne, defending back in his own penalty area, conceded a spot-kick which Conway drilled home emphatically. In the final seconds Duffield valiantly headed over the top from under the cross-bar as Sporting endeavoured to increase their lead.
Overall this was a most encouraging effort by the Black Country lads given their recent afflictions and may just have the wherewithal to help them generate performances under the new Management trio which will garner sufficient points to take them away from the foot of the League.
John. A. Cross - President, Tipton Town F.C. |