ALL SQUARE AT THE VICTORIA GROUND ON OPENING DAY
By David Hucker
New signing Kyle Turner scored his first goal for the club to earn Saints a point after Reece Hewitt had given Bromsgrove Sporting a first half lead
This looked a tough opening fixture for Saints, as Sporting had finished runners-up in last season's league table as well as beating Quentin Townsend's side 3-2 in the Les James Challenge Cup Final in May.
It didn't get any easier when, in the 28th minute, Reece Hewitt picked up the ball from a throw-in to easily beat debutant keeper James Cutts, who been signed from Stratford Town on the day of the match.
With former Leamington striker Luke Corbett in their attack, Sporting always looked capable of adding to their score, but it was another Saints newcomer in Kyle Turner (pictured) who levelled the match with a powerful header in the 69th minute.
Sporting were first out of the blocks, going close from a free kick in the opening minute, before Saints got their first chance from another free shortly after.
The home side went ahead in the 28th minute when Reece Hewitt picked up the ball from a throw-in to score throw the legs of Cutts and give the new keeper a nightmare start.
Saints almost got back into the match with a cross shot from Max Crisp in the 35th minute, but home keeper Shaun Edwards was up to the task and then, with a minute of the half remaining, Cutts showed what he could really do when saving a powerful effort from Corbett.
Lee Constable came close in the 49th minute before Jack Brighton, who had been booked in the first half, wasted a chance from a free kick.
Cutts then tipped a shot from Sean Brain over the bar, before turning another Sporting effort round the post as the home side started to assert.
Lee Thomas, who was sporting a bandage to protect the head wound suffered in last week's friendly against Daventry Town, sent in a good low cross that eluded everyone, before Corbett beat the offside trap for the second time, only to see his lob hit the bar with Cutts beaten.
Substitute Chris Conway then hit the post within just a minute of coming on and Saints rode their luck to get back in the game in the 69th as former Pilkington hitman Kyle Turner headed home powerfully from a Thomas corner.
Saints were left to finish the match with ten men after Brighton received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 73rd minute. Seconds later, Cutts was again called into action, pushing Hewitt's shot onto the post, before making another good save, this time low down from Brain.
On the stroke of normal time, James Hardie blocked another Brain effort and Saints played out the four added minutes to secure a point at a ground where they have been on the receiving end of hefty defeats in the last two seasons.
Bromsgrove Sporting: Shaun Edwards, Aaron Roberts, Brendan Kelly [Capt.], Simon Fitter, Craig Jones, James McKeon (Ollie Gibson 81), Joe Adams (John Myrie 61), Reece Hewitt, Luke Corbett (Chris Conway 61), Sean Brain, Aaron Williams
Subs not used: John Pykett, Brendon Bunn
Bookings: Sean Brain (foul on Lee Thomas 81)
Southam United: James Cutts, Jack Brighton, Mike Harvey (Lee Thomas 25), Kevin Spencer [Capt.], Matty Hunt, Max Crisp, Lee Constable (Stefan Grudzinski 81), James Hardie, Kyle Turner (Suki Nijjar 85), Gareth Evans, Tunde Ajibade
Subs not used: Marc Passey, Will Freeman (G/K)
Sending off: Jack Brighton (73)
Bookings: Tunde Ajibade (68), Jack Brighton (34, 73), Matty Hunt (45)
Match officials: Referee Paul Tyler, Assistants Ian Hopkins and Jamie Mortiboys
Attendance: 290
Player of the match: Kevin Spencer |