Bromsgrove Sporting 5, Pilkington XXX 3

BROMSGROVE Sporting stretched their unbeaten run in the Midlands Football League to 12 games with a thrilling fight back on New Year’s Day.

Trailing 3-1 after an hour and reduced to ten men after Chris Duggan’s dismissal, the Rouslers hit back as Sean Brain bagged a hat-trick.

Victory lifted Bromsgrove to second in the Midlands Premier.

Martin Sockett and Nick Smith took over team affairs with manager Paul Smith away on holiday and they had to make a few adjustments owing to absences.

Danny Morris and Craig Jones in defence were also away so in stepped Jack Wilson and Orrin Pendley - making his first start - at the back while Lewis Clarke returned from injury to play in mid-field.

Three former Rouslers were in the Pilkington line-up that included Reece Francis in goal along with Odane Barnes linking up with Jacob Snape up front and it was the dread-locked striker who provided the initial drama when he tapped in from a Barnes flick-on with just three minutes on the clock.

Shortly after the goal and with the home defence taking time to settle, Snape was still causing problems but in a rather charged atmosphere he received a yellow card after an altercation with Simon Fitter.

A couple of minutes after that incident, Sporting's Chris Duggan made a heavy challenge on Craig Oldfield.

There appeared to be minimal contact and no indication from the linesman but referee Robinson showed a straight red. Perhaps at that point things needed calming down so Duggan can probably consider himself a little unlucky.

With a man down, Sporting opted to play three at the back and go for the equaliser.

Reece Hewitt put a good effort over the bar, while Francis just got a hand to Sean Brain's shot moments later.

Sporting's pressure finally paid off on the 38th minute when Fitter floated over a long range pass to Brain who stepped round two defenders before stroking underneath a diving Francis.

Two minutes after the interval, the visitors were back in front and it was Snape again who caught the home defence napping as he hit home Oldfield's free kick from short range.

For the next few minutes the crowd were entertained with plenty of end-to-end action that included a 40-yard shot from Fitter and a screamer from Will Tibbetts that grazed the bar.

However, it was Pilks who again got on to the scoresheet and a deserved goal for Barnes who found himself with plenty of space to line up a shot just inside the box that went well wide of Jake Bedford and into the net.

The two-goal lead only lasted a couple of minutes as the impressive Reece Hewitt reduced the deficit with a fine shot though a crowded penalty area.

Sporting's equaliser was delivered just a minute later by Chris Conway who had come on a substitute for the unwell Sam Wills in the first half.

Conway took two steps into the box before unleashing a powerful daisy-cutter which gave Francis no chance and the Irishman his 50th in a Sporting strip.

With both teams looking determined to get the three points the pace of the match never slackened but with Pilkington tiring Sporting took advantage and the lead on 72 minutes.

Will Tibbetts put a superb cross into the box that Conway passed on to Brain who had plenty of time to fire past Francis's outstretched left arm.

Brain then completed his hat-trick and got Sporting's fifth two minutes later when he side-footed home from 10 yards out.

The visitors though did not give up and substitute Tom Baker put a good effort over the bar on the 89th minute but it was too little too late as Robinson blew for the end a few minutes later.

Sockett said: "This one was a great match for the fans with goals galore and plenty of action.

“Pilkington were the better side in the first half but we dominated the second and played well. It was a good all-round team effort".

Sporting: Bedford, Duggan, Wilson, Fitter, Pendley, Mahon, Tibbetts, Hewitt, Brain (Bradley, 88), Wills (Conway, 40), Clarke (Smith, 57). Unused substitutes: Ludlow, Bevis Pilkington: Francis, Gauntlett, Chesters, McCalla, Stirzaker (Fletcher, 46), Loveridge, Oldfield (Baker, 73), Giblin, Barnes, Snape, Parker (Barrett, 66). Unused substitute: Durose.

Referee: D Robinson (Hall Green). Attendance: 533. Sporting Man of the Match: Sean Brain