Bromsgrove Sporting's league campaign kicked off last Saturday against St Ives Town.

Manager, Thomas Baillie having had a busy pre-season owing to many players departing but an equal number coming in writes Shaunna-Grace Murphy.

The first half played out very evenly with both sides having chances though in the 29th minute, a Ryan Edmunds free-kick found new signing Dan Sweeney who scored on his league debut for Bromsgrove Sporting.

Early in the second half, the visitors equalised from a corner as bodies crowded Bromsgrove's 'keeper Ollie Taylor and Jonny Edwards for The Ives scored.

Sporting found it difficult to get back into the second half. Another St Ives corner saw Edwards score his second with a thundering strike from a corner.

New loan signings in Harvey Gregson and Jack Byrne came on for Sporting making a positive impact but St Ives controlled the latter of the second half with Sporting unable to get on to the ball.

The home side continued to push against the run of play, however St Ives were well organised at the back and a last effort from Bromsgrove was short-lived with the referee indicating that substitute Mikey Taylor had fouled one of the St Ives' defenders.

The game ended 2-1 to St Ives who outplayed Sporting in the second half and were deserved winners.

More questions now for Bromsgrove Sporting following a successful transfer window however the team have yet to gel.

Sporting now face Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday evening at the Victoria Ground for a friendly ahead of visiting Needham Market in a league encounter next Saturday.

Sporting: Ollie Taylor, Lewis Wright, Dom Perkins, George Forsyth, Tom Taylor (Capt, Jack Byrne 80 mins), Mike McGrath, Callum King-Harmes, Jimmy Fry (Harvey Gregson 80 mins), Dan Sweeney, Charlie Shaw (Mikey Taylor 68 mins), Ryan Edmunds.

Unused substitutes: Aaron Clayton, Kieran Dawes

Scorer: Dan Sweeney (29 mins)

Yellows: Charlie Shaw (45 mins), Ryan Edmunds (77 mins)

St Ives: James Goff, Julien Saka, Johnny Herd, Michael Richens, Jordan Williams, Callum Milne, Greg Kaziboni, Edmund Hotter, Jonny Edwards (Myles Cowlyn 90+2 mins), Dylan Williams (Nabil Sheriff 69 mins), Enoch Andoh (Andrew Osei-Bonsu 84 mins).

Unused substitutes: Owen Sheriff, Ethan Johnson.

Goals: Jonny Edwards (52, 72 mins)

Yellows: Julien Saka (80 mins), Jonny Edwards (85 mins)

Referee: Mr G Davies (Loughborough)

Assistants: Mr L Bowles (Birmingham), Mr C Thompson (Stourport-on-Severn)

Crowd: 569