WITH Sporting needing maximum points from every game to be in with a chance of promotion in the Midlands Combination Division One, Saturday’s result will have to go down as a disappointment.

In reality they should have had the match sewn up in the first 15 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 midfield 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, Police looked more organised and determined and finally got the equaliser when dangerman Steve Nurse gone on the end of a poor clearance following a goal-mouth 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 but with several teams having games in hand, the two lost points could prove to be expensive.

Sporting: Savage, Fellows, Harris, Martin, Thurbon, Wilkes (ROBERTS, 22), Jenvey (Rogers, 74), Draper, Conway, Rogers, Banner (Molesworth, 72).

Subs not used: Jones, Stewart. Scorer: Conway (33 mins); Yellow cards: Harris (22), Roberts (45).

West Midlands Police: Parker, Muliss, Hodge, Brogan, Mitchell, Windle (Cunningham-Smith, 88), Windle, Adams, Shannon, Jarrett (Holliday 70), Nurse.

Subs not used: Edwards, Fisher. Scorer: Nurse (72 mins). Yellow: Hodge (11 mins), Mitchell (26 mins), Windle (84 mins).

Referee: V Koni (Sutton Coldfield). Attendance: 238.