Bromsgrove Sporting 2, Smithswood Firs 1

SPORTING suffered deja vu after they were given a fright by Division Three minnows in the Les James Cup on Saturday.

The Rouslers had to produce a fight back thanks to goals for Will Tibbetts and Simon Fitter after they had been trailing to Chris Else's strike.

It was the second time this season that Bromsgrove have had to dig deep to progress in a knockout competition.

From the kick-off, the home side threatened going forward with Tibbetts and the lively Aaron Daniels terrorising the flanks with neat interplay.

Sam Wills fired just over the bar after good work by Daniels in the 15th minute.

Wills also had a curling free kick superbly saved by the opposition’s shot-stopper David Stratford.

But Firs good a surprise lead in the 41st minute when Else bagged an emphatic opener.

Nathan Leek then squandered a chance to double Bromsgrove's deficit.

But Sporting came out all guns blazing in the second half and Tibbetts levelled the scores with a powerful volley in the 47th minute.

The hosts made it 2-1 in the 66th minute, when Fitter free-kick from near the halfway line caught out Stratford.

Wills and Craig Jones both had shots for the hosts that were either put wide or well saved by Smithwood's keeper.

The final whistle blew to large cheers from the home fans in the Shed End. Again, Sporting showed spirit to come from behind to win a game that, occasionally, looked as though they were destined not to score.

Sporting: Bedford, Duggan, Sockett, Fitter, Jones,Mahon, Tibbetts (Hewitt, 83), Daniels, Hay (Brain, 71), Wills, Ludlow (Jakab, 71).

Unused substitutes: Conway, Smith.

Smithswood: Stratford, Else, Glenn, Leek (McKenna, 76), Rooke, Short, Hughes (Darby, 54), Harris, Evans, Thomas, Anderson (Hemming, 68).

Substitutes not used: Thompson, Billingsley.

Referee: A Glazzard (Stourbridge)

Assistants: R Lovegrove (Redditch), J Hennessey (Redditch).

Attendance: 229

Sporting Man of the Match: Aaron Daniels