With Sporting needing maximum points from every game to be in with a chance of promotion, this result will have to go down as a disappointment.
In reality they should have had the match sown up in the first fifteen minutes as they created numerous opportunities to score but poor finishing, desperate defending by the Police and sheer bad luck kept the scores level.
Dan Wilkes hobbled of with an ankle injury after 22 minutes to be replaced by Aaron Roberts making a comeback after leaving the Club 15 month ago. He made an immediate impression in mid-field and supplied the delightful through pass to Chris Conway who slotted well past Police 'keeper Stewart Parker on 33 minutes.
That was a bit of a wake-up call to the away team who then started to build up better attacking moves but Sporting still had their opportunities but failed to increase their slender lead.
After the break, The Police looked more organised and determined and finally got the equaliser when Steve Nurse gone on the end of a poor clearance following a goalmouth scramble and found the back of the net through a packed goal area.
Chances from then on became rare as two well-organised defences mopped up any threats. Referee Mr Koni finally blew up after a couple of minute's added time but it was clear that neither side were happy with the outcome.
Sporting remain in fifth place in the Midland Combination Division One but with several teams having games in hand, the two lost points today could prove to be expensive.
Sporting: Tom Savage, Karl Fellows, Nick Harris, Nick Martin, Mike Thurbon, Dan Wilkes (Aaron Roberts 22 mins), Peter Jenvey (Gareth Rogers 74 mins), Keith Draper, Chris Conway, Jon Rogers Kevin Banner (Ryan Molesworth 72 mins),
Subs not used: Craig Jones, Mickey Stewart.
Police: Stewart Parker, Mike Muliss, Mitchell Hodge, Paul Brogan, Alex Mitchell, Steve Windle (Tom Cunningham-Smith 88 mins), John Windle, Richard Adams, Loz Shannon, Dan Jarrett (Dan Holliday 70 mins), Steve Nurse.
Subs not used: Mark Edwards, Dave Fisher. |