Studley 1, Bromsgrove Sporting 2

BROMSGROVE Sporting came from behind to keep their title hopes alive after breaking down stubborn Studley on Saturday.

The Rouslers had been trailing to Dan Dineen's well-hit free-kick but second half strikes by Sam Wills and Reece Hewitt ensured manager Paul Smith enjoyed victory at his former club.

With Simon Fitter suspended, the visitors played a flat back four while Hewitt returned from injury and Aaron Williams kept his place in mid-field after a competent display last Tuesday.

From the kick-off until the interval, The Rouslers spent most of the half in their opponents' territory and had the bulk of the play but getting the ball into the net was a different matter.

Craig Jones and Josh McKenzie (twice) had shots cleared off the line and Bees keeper George Harris also made a good low save from a forceful Will Tibbetts' shot.

Harris, who had previously been at Sporting, then produced a one-handed save to deny McKenzie.

Hewitt was having a good game in an unfamiliar role as left-winger and after his pin-point cross, Sam Wills should have done better than put his shot wide just before the break.

Inevitably nine minutes into the second half, Studley took the lead.

Scott Smith was somewhat harshly judged to have pushed Jason Ramsey a couple of yards outside the Sporting box and Dineen's free-kick flew into the top right-hand corner of the Sporting net, well wide of Jake Bedford's outstretched right arm.

Not to be outdone, Sporting got their equaliser on the 67th minute in a similar fashion.

Dineen was this time the offender when he handled just in front of his own penalty area, allowing former Bee Sam Wills took the place kick for Sporting and curled his shot beautifully over former Rousler George Harris in the Studley goal.

Two minutes later, Sporting had another free-kick, this time taken by substitute Sean Brain who dropped the ball into the middle of the box only to see Craig Jones' toe-poke blocked by Harris.

Another three minutes later and the visitors took the lead. Again from a set piece when Josh McKenzie nodded on Will Tibbetts' corner to Hewitt, who made no mistake with a well-struck half-volley into the top right corner of Harris's net.

Studley rallied for the last few minutes and came close on the 79th but Ramsey missed a tap in with Bedford stranded.

Studley: Harris, Joynes, Shaw, Pringle-Andrews,Dineen,Mansulo, Miller (Brown, 65), Murray, Manochehri (Lloyd, 86), Ramsey, Brassington.

Subs not used: Thomas, Farrington, Griffin.

Sporting: Bedford, Duggan (Brain, 59), Morris, Williams, Smith, Jones, Tibbetts,Wills (Wilson, 75), Conway (Clarke, 65), McKenzie, Hewitt.

Subs not used: Dempster, Ludlow.

Referee: M Steward (Redditch) Attendance: 177 Sporting Man of the Match: Reece Hewitt