Littleton 1, Bromsgrove 2

BROMSGROVE Sporting’s defence of the Smedley Crooke Charity Cup failed at the first hurdle after Littleton came from behind to win.

The Rouslers had been leading through Sam Wills’ 15th minute strike, only for Jack Cresswell and Danie Holloway to pounce in the final ten minutes.

Chris Conway playing up front had a low drive saved in the 3rd minute and should have done better then ballooning the ball over the bar six minutes later.

Meanwhile, Sean Brain was proving to be a handful for the Littleton defence and his pace created the opening goal when a surging run earned a free-kick, which Wills curled into the top left corner.

Sporting continued to dominate proceedings for the remainder of the half. Chris Duggan peppered numerous balls into the box from right-back and despite getting into some good scoring positions the Rouslers failed to increase their lead.

After half-time play continued where it left off with Sporting camped in the Littleton half.

Matt Gardner provided a good chance on 47 minutes with a powerful header that Whitcombe tipped on to his bar and with some relief saw it go out for a corner.

Sporting suffered a setback when Conway collided with a perimeter fence and ended up with a bandaged head.

Gardner saw an effort ruled out for offside and Littleton battled back into the game and Cresswell beat keeper Jake Bedworth with a chip in the 80th minute.

Holloway then eluded the Bromsgrove offside trap and with the back four in some disarray hit home a low shot under the diving Bedford to give his side the lead.

With several added minutes Sporting pushed forward to square things up. Scott Smith forced Whitcombe into a good save following a corner but in the end it was Littleton’s night who rightly celebrated a well-earned victory.

Sporting: Bedford, Duggan, Morris, Fitter, Smith, Adams, Hewitt (Jones, 61), Conway (Carter, 68), Gardner, Brain, Wills.

Subs not used: Mahon, Clarke, Tibbetts.

Littleton: Whitcombe; Wilcox; Gayton; Bunn; Beattie; Cooke; Clarke; Hayward; Holloway; Cresswell; Evans (Rowlands, 73).

Subs not used: Smith; Eminoglu; Clough; Sitch.

Referee: P Rodway (Rubery)