After three successive wins against Southam and scoring 21 goals in the process, Sporting found their opponents a much different team this evening as the visitors crashed to their first league away defeat of the season, indeed the first since December 2013.
With five men in the back line and very tight marking Sporting found life difficult right from the start. Sean Brain looked lively up front but although he managed to beat an opponent or two there was always another waiting for him. He did though make the away side's first chance when a flashed a shot across the face of the goal from a tight angle on seven minutes.
For much of the first half Sporting had most of the possession and kept the Southam defence well in their own half but chances were few and Tom Cross in the home goal was little troubled as the score remained goalless at half-time.
After the break Southam got off to a good start and from their first move took the lead when Callum Yeates got behind the Sporting back four and fired into the top right-hand corner of Jake Bedford's net from close range.
Play then resumed as in the first half with Sporting camped in their opponents half but with the Southam back line mopping up everything thrown at them whilst they relied on breaks in an attempt to increase their lead.
Jozsef Jakab came on for Will Tibbetts and added a little more muscle up front. That resulted in a few more chances particularly from Chrisi Conway and Brain but still Cross had not been really tested.
Finally after a lot of pressure Sporting's equaliser came on the 82nd minute. Jakab fired a good shot through a crowded goal area that was deflected back from Adam Guest to Conway who picked his spot and buried the ball in the bottom left hand corner.
Sensing that another goal could be possible with a bit more effort, the Bromsgrove outfit pushed forward and relied mainly on high balls into the box and with two added minutes played the large contingent of visiting fans behind the goal thought the winner had arrived but Jakab's skilful volley hit the side netting.
Southam also tried for the winner and forced a good save from Bedford a couple of minutes later but with five extra minutes played, Simon Fitter's clumsy tackle on Louis Bridges in the box earned him a red card for being the last man and a penalty for the home team that Bridges duly converted to give his side the victory.
So losing another three points has made Sporting's bid for the title more difficult particularly with Highgate United winning. However they can see off other contenders starting on Saturday with a home match against second-placed Hinckley.
Southam: Tom Cross, Chris Bright, Lee Thomas, Myles Jones, Adam Guest (Capt.), Max Crisp (Stefan Grudzinski 84 mins), Andy Yeates, Tunde Ajibade, Mark Bellingham (Suki Nijjar 60 mins), Louis Bridges, Callum Yeates.
Unused substitutes: James Keller, Dan Rist, Quentin Townsend.
Goals: Callum Yeates (46 mins), Louis Bridges (penalty 90+6 mins)
Sporting: Jake Bedford, Lewis Clarke, Danny Morris (Sam Wills 46 mins), Simon Fitter (Capt.), Craig Jones, Scott Smith, Will Tibbetts (Jozsef Jakab 60 mins), Reece Hewitt, Chrisi Conway, Sean Brain (Ross Dempster 77 mins), Jack Wilson.
Unused substitutes: Chris Duggan, Dan Carter.
Scorer: Chrisi Conway (82 mins),
Yellow: Jozsef Jakab (90 mins)
Red: Simon Fitter (90+5 mins)
Referee: Mr S Chalkley (Chelmsley Wood)
Assistants: Mr A Legg (Castle Bromwich), Mr D Pugh (Erdington)
Attendance: ~ 97
Weather: Cold, dry.
Sporting Man of the Match: Reece Hewitt |