Highgate United 1, Bromsgrove Sporting 3

BROMSGROVE Sporting gave their title challenge a huge boost after defeating rivals Highgate Untied 3-1 on Saturday.

The Rouslers avenged their opening day loss with a stirring performance in Shirley.

The three points keeps Sporting in the hunt for the top spot in the Midlands Football League Premier.

While they are fourth, Bromsgrove have games in hand on all of their rivals.

They had been trailing to a Scott Turner ninth minute goal before William Tibbetts and Craig Jones had edged Sporting ahead.

But the hosts were reduced to ten men when Nathan Edgington was reduced to ten men for a challenge on Daniel Morris.

Tibbetts made sure of the points with his second after the break.

Highgate had been quickly into action with Lei Brown putting a useful shot from a free-kick just over the bar with a couple of minutes on the clock.

Simon Fitter responded when he went close with a free-kick on the fourth minute.

However, it was the home side who took the lead when Tom Lacey’s free-kick was headed into the back of the net by Turner.

The Rouslers responded quickly and Reece Hewitt was unlucky not to get the equaliser when his 20-yard half-volley hit Connor McCarthy's right-hand post.

Parity was restored in the 20th minute when Tibbetts curled a fine ball to the far post only to see it go straight in over the line.

Twelve minutes later, Sporting were in the lead thanks to Simon Fitter' s expertise at long-range free-kicks.

He floated an inch-perfect ball in the Highgate penalty area from the centre circle and was on hand to slide home from a few yards out.

The home side were clearly rattled at losing their lead and this came to a head when Edgington was shown a straight red card after a late challenge on Danny Morris into the defender's ankles.

After a lively first-half, the second proceeded at a slower pace with Sporting in control and using the spare man to defend their narrow lead. Highgate did attempt to push forward but the away side's defence remained solid.

On 76 minutes, Sporting's pressure finally brought them another goal.

Hewitt broke free down the left side, dummied one defender then delivered a pin-point cross to an unmarked Tibbetts who easily headed past Connor McCarthy for his second of the game.

Finally after playing an extra five minutes, the referee blew for full-time much to the relief of the 100 plus contingent of Bromsgrove fans who had witnessed Sporting's toughest match of the season.

At the end, Smith said: "The team had a big challenge today, we played well and we have come away with a good result. We are now looking to build on this win starting at Bolehall next week.”

Highgate: McCarthy, Smith (Loney, 78), Pulisciano, Curtis, Turner, Edwards, Lacey, Crawford (Fellows, 87), Edgington, O'Shea (Mooney, 46), Brown.

Unused substitutes: Rolfe, Hayes.

Sporting: Bedford, Mahon, Morris, Fitter, Jones, Smith, Tibbetts, Hewitt, Jakab (Brain, 70), Wills (Conway, 80), Wilson (Clarke, 64).

Unused substitutes: Dempster, Duggan.

Referee: G Hubbard (Halesowen) Attendance: 207 Sporting Man of the Match: Craig Jones.