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Sat 24th Jan 2015 @ 15:00 - Brownsfield Park Attendance: 140
Lichfield City
3 - 3
Bromsgrove Sporting
Referee: Mr. D. Parkes (Stoke-On-Trent) Midland Football League / Division 1

Goalscorers
Mark Rose (17)
Mark Rose (19)
Mark Rose (76)
Will Tibbetts (23)
Jozsef Jakab (54)
Ryan Mahon (62)
Starting Line-ups
James Beeson
Andre Francis
Joe Haines
Dan McLeod
Adam Wood
Dan Worrall
Luke Hinson
Lewis Hayden
Lee Osbourne
Mark Rose
Liam Holt
Jake Bedford
Jack Wilson
Simon Fitter
Craig Jones
Scott Smith
Ryan Mahon
Will Tibbetts
Matt Gardner
Jozsef Jakab
Sean Brain
Sam Wills
Substitutes
Alex Cooper
Dan Haynes
Jay Birch
Jordan Hunt
Gavin Hurren
Dan Carter
Joe Adams
Charlie Wilson
Reece Hewitt
Tim Bradley
Substitutions
Jay Birch -> Luke Hinson (46)
Gavin Hurrin -> Lee Osbourne (64)
Reece Hewitt -> Jozsef Jakab (64)
Joe Adams -> Jack Wilson (84)
Yellow cards
Dan Worrall (40)
Liam Holt (48)
Craig Jones (19)
Red cards
None None
Match Report | Programme
Another visit to Lichfield and another disappointing result. At least it was a draw this time after four previous defeats but really Sporting had more than enough opportunities to take all three points.

Several absences forced manager Paul Smith to change his team around. Jozsef Jakab had a rare start partnering newcomer Matt Gardner up front whilst Simon Fitter moved to right back in Danny Morris's absence. Reece Hewitt was late after a long journey so Sam Wills took his place in mid-field.

Playing up hill but with a low sun in their eyes on a very heavy and uneven pitch, Sporting spent the first 15 minutes camped in the Lichfield half. With two big strikers to aim for, plenty of balls were pumped into the box but in a carbon copy of last week's match against Pershore, these were capably dealt with by the two centre-backs Dan McLeod and Adam Ward. And in another copy of last week's game, Lichfield also gave away a number of free-kicks just outside the penalty area but again Sporting failed to take advantage.

Then with seventeen minutes on the clock, the inevitable happened and the home side took the lead. A quick move out of defence saw Lewis Hayden move up field on the left and send over a useful cross into the box. Sporting 'keeper Jake Bedford appeared to hesitate and fall backwards as he attempted to get the ball that fell to Mark Rose who just got enough of a touch to hit home from ten yards out.

Two minutes later, Lichfield increased their lead with something of a bizarre goal. Liam Holt this time hit a cross in the box and there looked to be little danger for the away defence but Craig Jones' attempt to clear resulted in the ball ballooning up in the air and with a bit of wind assistance it landed on the goal line only to bounce up and hit the underside of the bar before crossing the line. Just in case it needed any help Mark Rose was on hand to give it a final touch.

Five minutes later the Rouslers got one back and it was the hard-working Jack Wilson who managed to overcome the conditions with a useful run from the half-way line up the left-hand side, he beat one defender then made a good pass to the far side where Will Tibbetts slotted into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards out.

With something more of an end-to end match in progress and just another 60 seconds on the clock, Lichfield could have put the match well beyond their visitors when Rose this time with a powerfully stuck header, beat Bedford only for his effort to ricochet off the bar.

Sporting continued to press forward and as in the first 15 minutes had plenty of possession and time in the Lichfield half but they saw every effort blocked by the well-disciplined City defence.

After the interval and playing downhill, Sporting attempted to keep possession and move the ball around quickly. Not easy in the conditions but their efforts paid dividends on the 54th minute when Will Tibbetts chipped a delightful ball towards the near post which Jakab glanced into the net.

Sporting then took the lead on 63 minutes again with a neat build-up and this time Jakab was the provider with accurate pass into the path of Ryan Mahon who made no mistake with a hard struck daisy-cutter from 12 yards.

Lichfield's equaliser came with 76 minutes on the clock and really this was a gift from Sporting. After a patient build-up, the Bromsgrove back line stopped the City attack. Scott Smith was looking to clear to ball up field but instead attempted to pass the ball out of defence only to give it to Rose who gratefully fired into the centre of the net for his hat-trick.

For the final fifteen minutes both sides attempted to get their noses in front but neither managed and so the two teams had to settle for a draw.

Not an unfair result and cases could be made for both teams to have won. For Sporting they should have defended better but at the risk of sounding like Louis van Gaal the conditions were far from ideal.

Lichfield: James Beeson, Andre Francis, Joe Haines, Dan McLeod, Adam Wood (Capt.), Dan Worrall, Luke Himson (Jay Birch 46 mins), Lewis Hayden, Lee Osbourne (Gavin Hurren 64 mins), Mark Rose, Liam Holt.
Unused substitutes: Alex Cooper, Dan Haynes, Jordan Hunt
Scorers: Mark Rose (17, 19, 76 mins)
Yellows: Dan Worrall (40 mins), Liam Holt (48 mins)

Sporting: Jake Bedford, Ryan Mahon, Jack Wilson (Joe Adams 84 mins), Simon Fitter (Capt.), Craig Jones, Scott Smith, Will Tibbetts, Jozsef Jakab (Reece Hewitt 64 mins), Matt Gardner, Sam Wills, Sean Brain.
Unused substitutes: Charlie Wilson, Tim Bradley Dan Carter.
Scorers: Will Tibbetts (23 mins), Jozsef Jakab (54 mins), Ryan Mahon (62 mins)
Yellow: Craig Jones (19 mins)

Referee: Mr D Parker (Stoke-upon-Trent)
Assistants: Mr D Pugh (Erdington), Mr I Gillespie (Sutton Coldfield)

Attendance: 140
Weather: Cold, windy.
Sporting Man of the Match: Jozsef Jakab