Atherstone Town 1, Bromsgrove Sporting 2

BROMSGROVE Sporting bounced back from last week's defeat to Leicester Road with a hard fought win in Warwickshire on Saturday.

Manager Paul Smith was quick to strengthen his squad following the defeat to Leicester Road signing keeper Chris Jay from Tividale and former Fairfield Villa striker Connor Collins from Halesowen Town.

Collins was in action as early as the second minute when his shot was blocked after a good interchange with Luke Dugmore.

Atherstone then had a decent spell with Jake Brown putting a good ball across the face of the goal but there was nobody there to meet it.

On 24 minutes, Liam Spink and Collins combined well to supply Josh McKenzie but the big striker fired over.

After having the better of the play, the visitors finally took a deserved lead 11 minutes later when Sam Wills hit a free-kick to the far post that Craig Jones powered home from just a few yards out.

Having gained the lead and boosted their confidence Sporting dominated the remainder of the half but failed to capitalise on their advantage with both Dugmore and Collins coming close but failing to find the back of the net.

After their half-time refreshments, the home side came out more fired up and obviously looking for at least the equaliser with Michael Bloore testing Jay on 47 minutes with a hard drive that the keeper did well to save diving low.

At the other end, Collins should have done better four minutes later when he received a cross in the box but appeared to hesitate expecting a whistle for off-side then blasted his effort over the bar.

However, Sporting were still edging this match and with The Adders a little exposed at the back, Simon Fitter delivered a long-range pass to Collins who dummied centre-back Harrison White then rounded keeper Phil Smith before slotting home to open his account with his new club.

The Adders pulled a goal back through Ryan Ball in the 83rd minute and The Rouslers re-asserted their authority for the remainder of the match.

ATHERSTONE: Smith, Mewies, Gray, Webb, White, Wesley (Waters, 70), Bailey, Brown, Turner (Ball, 80), Bishop (Baird, 61), Bloore. Substitute not used: Thorpe, SPORTING: Jay, Roberts, Kelly, Fitter, Jones, Dugmore (Gibson, 80), Spink, Wills, Collins,McKenzie (McKeon, 75), Edwards (Hanks, 88). Substitutes not used: Smith, Poulter.

Referee: Mr T Reeves (Coventry). Attendance: 207. Sporting MoM: Craig Jones