A deserved and useful three points for Sporting to maintain their title challenge but they found things difficult against a well-organised Studley defence.
With Simon Fitter suspended, the visitors played a flat back four whilst Reece Hewitt returned from injury and Aaron Williams kept his place in mid-field after a competent display last Tuesday.
From the kick-off until the interval, The Rouslers spent most of the half in their opponents' territory and had the bulk of the play but getting the ball into the net was a different matter.
In the first ten minutes, Craig Jones (once) and Josh McKenzie (twice) had shots cleared off the line and when it was not desperate defending, Studley 'keeper George Harris was in the right place at the right time particularly on the 17th minute when he made a good low save from a forceful Will Tibbetts' shot. Then just a few minutes later McKenzie's well-struck effort saw Harris save with one hand.
It was just over the half-hour mark before the home side mounted their first serious attack but Dan Dineen's drive went well wide of Jake Bedford's right-hand post.
Hewitt was having a good game in an unfamiliar role as left-winger and after his pin-point cross; Sam Wills should have done better than put his shot wide just before the break.
Inevitably nine minutes into the second half, Studley took the lead. Scott Smith was somewhat harshly judged to have pushed Jason Ramsey a couple of yards outside the Sporting box, Dan Dineen took the resulting free-kick and hit a fine strike into the top right-hand corner of the Sporting net, well wide of Jake Bedford's outstretched right arm.
Not to be outdone, Sporting got their equaliser on the 66th minute in a similar fashion. Dineen was this time the offender when he handled just in front of his own penalty area. Former Bee, Sam Wills took the place kick for Sporting and curled his shot beautifully over former Rousler George Harris in the Studley goal.
Two minutes later, Sporting had another free kick, this time taken by substitute Sean Brain who dropped the ball into the middle of the box only to see Craig Jones' toe-poke blocked by Harris.
Another three minutes later and the visitors took the lead. Again from a set piece when Josh McKenzie nodded on Will Tibbetts' corner to Reece Hewitt who made no mistake with a well-struck half-volley into the top right corner of Harris's net.
Studley rallied for the last few minutes and came close on the 79th but Ramsey missed a tap in with Bedford stranded.
With a lot of tired legs on a gluey pitch, the pace slowed considerably and neither side threatened any changes to the scoreline before Mr Steward blew for fulltime after four added minutes.
This was not a vintage Sporting performance but they did play well on an unforgiving pitch. With others sides picking up points they remain in fourth place but with games in hand that they must win if they are to have any chance of overhauling Highgate United. Starting at Pershore on Bank Holiday Monday will be a good time to continue their four-match winning run.
Studley: George Harris, Gary Joynes, Giovannie Shaw, Cameron Pringle-Andrews, Dan Dineen, Junior Mansulo, Anthony Miller (Junior Brown 65 mins), Michael Murray (Capt.), Oli Manochehri (Corey Lloyd 83 mins), Jason Ramsey, Shane Brassington.
Subs not used: Leon Thomas, Dean Farrington, Luke Griffin.
Goal: Dan Dineen (54 mins)
Yellows: Shane Brassington (50 mins). Gary Joynes (90+3 mins).
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan (Sean Brain 58 mins), Danny Morris, Aaron Williams, Scott Smith (Capt.), Craig Jones, Will Tibbetts, Sam Wills (Jack Wilson 75 mins), Chrisi Conway (Lewis Clarke 65 mins), Josh McKenzie, Reece Hewitt.
Subs not used: Ross Dempster, Danny Ludlow.
Scorers: Sam Wills (66 mins), Reece Hewitt (71 mins)
Yellows: Scott Smith (86 mins).
Referee Mr M Steward (Redditch)
Assistants: Mr R Crook (Rednal), Mr R McIlravey (Redditch).
Crowd: 177
Weather: Bright, gusty.
Sporting Man of the Match: Reece Hewitt |