After an enforced lay off for nearly three weeks both players and fans were glad to be starting a game of football even if it was quite dark at two o'clock and the pitch was quite uneven after the recent assault by the freezing weather.
Sporting had Nick Harris suspended. He was replaced by the brother of Jamie Siviter, Jordan whilst Chris Mole was still carrying an injury and with other replacement 'keepers unavailable, new goalkeeping coach Scott Franklin got a chance between the sticks.
Star were the quicker team out of their blocks and nearly took the lead on the third minute when Aaron Garvey beat Franklin with a curling shot from 20 yards out only to see it ricochet off the bar.
Neat and accurate passing was difficult so Sporting relied more on long and high passes to the front men particular from Zac Blood but chances were few for either side with Star marking the Sporting strikers heavily whilst the away team's back three saw of any further threats from Star's lively strikers.
In the first half, both teams looked to be a bit short of match practice and the conditions were not conducive for fast and furious football. But in the second half the game livened up. Dan Wilkes got the ball into the net on 61 minutes but had his effort ruled offside. Some dispute as to who and when but it was believed to be Michael Woolman who was not interfering with play at the time; so the debate goes on!
The middle of the second half was a good spell for the visitors who had their opponents pinned back in the last third of the field for much of the time and really should have converted possession and territory into goals.
But bad luck played its part as well for Sporting. After a goalmouth scramble, Neil Cooksey's shot was stopped on the line by a relieved Star 'keeper, Che O'Conner, only to be followed by team captain Richard Griffith heading against the post from a corner.
A minute later and more ill fortune when Gareth Rogers put in a great pass from the left, Odane Barnes connected well only to see his shot his the woodwork as well, this time the bar.
So in the fading light, the game eventually came to an end with both sides making a good claim that they should have won it.
Sporting created more chances but failed to put them away when they were on top, Star had their moments and with a couple of first team players on the pitch ought to have been more adventurous instead of defending in numbers.
Star (blue/yellow shirts, blue/yellow shorts, blue socks, 4-4-1-1) - Che O'Connor; Thomas Sylon, Jacob Greaves, Dwayne Robinson, Stefan Gordon (Josh Nugent 65 mins); Joshua Robinson, Justin Jackson (Capt.), Justin Blair (Jeremy Lynch 80 mins), Nathaniel Hare; Aaron Garvey; Carl Blair. Substitutes not used: Stefan Howard, Patrick O'Shea, Matthew Robinson.
Sporting (green shirts, white shorts, green/white socks, 3-5-2) - Scott Franklin; Richard Griffiths (Capt, Danny Patrick 82 mins), John Huckfield, Neil Cooksey; Gareth Rogers (Chris Bright 75 mins), Jordan Siviter, Dan Wilkes, Jamie Rogers, Zac Blood; Michael Woolman, Jamie Siviter (Odane Barnes, 69 mins). Substitutes not used: James McKeon, Nick Allen |