Bromsgrove Sporting 1 - 1 Biggleswade Town
Sporting: Richard Gregory (45+2')
Biggleswade: Liam Brooks (8')
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Bromsgrove Sporting kickstarted their debut season at Step Three with a 1-1 draw versus Biggleswade Town.
Both the game's goals came in the first 45, as Liam Brooks opened the scoring for the visitors with a well taken effort, before Sporting skipper Richard Gregory headed the home side level on the stroke of half time.
The deadlock was broken eight minutes in, as sloppy defending from Sporting allowed Brooks to sneak in and hit home hard and low past Tony Breeden.
Sporting's first meaningful chance came four minutes later, as Charlie Dowd pinged an inviting ball into the box, which Robbie Thompson-Brown met at the far post but volleyed handsomely over.
Despite the early encounters being scrappy, Sporting slowly made their way into the game as the half progressed, with Josh Quaynor putting a cross into the area that Joe Hull headed well over on the half hour mark, before a Quaynor free kick fell to Tom Taylor in the box, who saw his shot deflected out for a corner.
The 44th minute saw Dowd cap off a driving run through the middle with an easily saved shot by Samuel Donkin, which was followed by the equaliser in the first minute of additional time, as Tom Massey passed it to Liam Spink, who put in a fine cross into the box that Gregory emphatically headed home.
Sporting started the second half well, with Thompson-Brown firing over from around 20 yards out, before Gregory spurned an effort just shy of the 70th minute mark, putting it wide.
The 78th minute saw substitute John Pykett shoot straight at the keeper, after being set up by Taylor via a corner, as Sporting built up the pressure.
The final minutes saw Biggleswade almost take all three points, with Joseph White having a one-on-one strike saved by the feet of Breeden, before White saw another effort kept out by the oncoming Sporting stopper.
Soon after, Biggleswade substitutes Drew Richardson and Ruben Soares Junior both had chances, but the former could only find the crossbar with his header, whilst the latter hit a volley over the upright.
Shaquille McDonald almost fired Bromsgrove to an opening day win in injury time, but found the side netting with his ferocious drive.
Sporting manager Bren Kelly was happy with the point, commenting: "It was a fair result against a very strong side.
"To come from behind shows great character in the dressing room - I'm pleased with this positive start to life in Step Three."
Biggleswade boss Lee Allinson pointed out the weather as being an important factor, saying: "It was a very competitive, good game, that was ruined by the horrendous wind.
"Two sides that went at it and had a good battle, in the right way."
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Man of the Match: Tom Massey (Bromsgrove Sporting)
Entertainment Rating: 3/5
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Teams (subs in brackets)
Bromsgrove
1. Tony Breeden (GK)
2. Liam Spink (Will Shorrock HT)
3. Jack Wilson
4. Tom Massey
5. Tom Taylor (Kyle Lincoln 80')
6. Joe Hull
7. Charlie Dowd (John Pykett 70')
8. Josh Quaynor
9. Shaquille McDonald
10. Richard Gregory (captain)
11. Robbie Thompson-Brown
Sporting subs.
12. Kyle Lincoln
13. Jono Brown (GK)
14. Will Shorrock
15. John Pykett
18. Kyle Perry
Biggleswade
1. Samuel Donkin (GK)
2. Matthew Miles
3. Lucas Perry
4. Kieron Forbes (captain)
5. Liam Mcdevitt
6. Jordan Gent
7. Shaun Lucien (Ruben Soares Junior 73')
8. Peter Clark (Drew Richardson 63')
9. Joseph White
10. Matthew Ball
11. Liam Brooks (Callum Stead 55')
Subs
12. Luca Allinson
14. Callum Stead
15. Ruben Soares Junior
16. Drew Richardson
17. Jack Bradshaw |