Bromsgrove Sporting continued their recent unbeaten away form with a battling draw at Coton Green. With Nick Allen restored to central defence alongside Craig Jones, Sporting looked more solid than recently, although on a dank, dull Staffordshire day they had to work hard to ensure there wasn't too much excitement at the wrong end of the field as Coton Green played some good football on the break.
Sporting threatened as early as the third minute as a Kevin Banner free kick was headed over by Martin Keight. Sporting had the better of the first period without penetrating the Coton Green defence although they failed to capitalise on a number of dead ball situations.
At the back Sporting almost created their own downfall as on 23 minutes a poor shot from Cover was fumbled by keeper Biddle and slipped just past the post for a corner. Biddle redeemed himself from the resulting corner with a fine catch under pressure.
As the half wore on Sporting looked the more lively but the extra touch around the box that always seemed to be required on a bumpy, muddy pitch, allowed defenders to get in blocks and clearances so keeper Mark Bowen had little to deal with as only Jon Rogers took any shooting opportunities and regrettably for Jon this was an off day for his shooting boots.
Sporting did have a couple of shouts for penalties as the ball pinged around the box and twice appeared to strike a defenders hand but the referee was unmoved.
Sporting started the second half brightly and created a couple of half chances with the best being a free kick just outside the box which Banner struck over the bar.
With Coton Green's threat being only on the break, Sporting coach Stew Brighton replaced winger Banner with a third forward, Rob Hendry as a gamble to bring the elusive goal to break the deadlock. After only 2 minutes it almost worked as the ball was pulled back to Hendry six yards out but he took a touch and was unable to get the ball out from under his feet and shoot before the defence scrambled the ball clear.
Bright had pushed up into midfield and became a threat on the right but Sporting continued to be unable to produce and end result for all their build up play as attack after attack was broken up by the hard working Coton Green defence.
There was little more goal mouth incident until the last minute as Harris slipped a ball through to Rogers who broke clear of the defenders and brought an excellent save out of Bowen to ensure the game ended goalless. A draw was a fair result even though Sporting probably felt they had come up short when 3 points were there for the taking if only they could have been sharper in attack.
Sporting: Biddle, Bright, Harris (Capt.), Jones, Allen, Keight, Draper, Curry, Barnes, Rogers Jon, Banner (Hendry 62)
Subs not used Wilkes, Tierney, O'Meara, Whitehouse.
Coton Green: Bowen, Eccles (Shipway 75), Smith, Mosley, White, Hitchman, Withers, Daley, Lawrence, Taylor, Cover.
Subs not used; Horton, Hanlon |