Nuneaton Griff 2, Bromsgrove Sporting 2

MATTY Poyner bagged a brace as Sporting earned a useful point at fellow Midland Combination high-flyers Nuneaton Griff on Saturday.

The attacker opened the scoring but after a double for Griff's Alex Naughton, the Sporting man ensured it was honours event with his 81st minute effort.

Sporting had a number of absences owing to work commitments or injury but Will Tibbetts was available to play as Causeway were not playing.

With no recognised striker available, Poyner played up front with Sam Wilkinson behind making up a five-man midfield.

Wilkinson was unlucky to see his shot towards the top left hand corner tipped over by Dave Watson.

That incident seemed to wake the home side up who then had three god chances themselves in the next ten minutes.

However, it was Sporting who took the lead on the 18th minute.

Brett Mander picked up the ball from a throw-in and hit a hard cross into the box, where Lewis Clarke toe-poked home from close range.

The lead though only lasted three minutes when Naughton equalised for the home side with a header.

Nuneaton finally got themselves in front on 33 minutes when Jake Harvey was alleged to have brought down Mitch Thomson in the box. Naughton duly converted from the spot for his second.

With a slightly under-strength team and a goal down, expectation for Sporting was not that high at the start of the second half but the midfield got their act together moving the ball round neatly and getting well into the opposition half.

Meanwhile at the other end, the back four well-marshalled by Joe Cole stopped Griff before they could create any real threats.

Poyner fired home the rebound when Wilkinson's powerful strike ricocheted off the angle of the goal.

Nuneaton: Watson, Coultas, Bryan, Faulconbridge, Millerchip, Latham (Harris 85 mins), Barrett, Gaunt, Ruff (G Williams, 64), Naughton, Thomson (Barnett ,74).

Subs not used: Webb, Williams.

Sporting: Bedford, Mander, Harvey, Clarke, Cole, Jones, Tibbetts, Darkin,Wilkinson, Poyner, Ludlow (Ashman, 72).

Subs not used:Edwards, Heath, Jones, Lowe.

Referee: R Cutts (Birdingbury, Warks) Attendance: 112