Sporting 1, Cleethorpes Town 1

BROMSGROVE Sporting will go to Cleethorpes with their Wembley dream still within touching distance after battling to a semi-final first leg stalemate at the Victoria Ground.

Paul Smith's underdogs more than matched their higher-ranked opponents throughout the FA Vase clash in front of 3,349 fans.

Jason Cowley headed home the opener for the Rouslers on 31 minutes after the hosts came out firing in the first period.

But they had to settle for a draw after Cleethorpes found a second-half equaliser when Luke Edwards put past his own keeper.

It was Sporting that started the brighter as they quickly snapped into challenges in midfield and made sure they were the first to loose balls.

The first chance fell to Cowley on seven minutes as he headed over after Sam Wills swung in a free-kick from the right.

Sporting continued to dominate possession as Ahmed Ali took charge in the centre of the pitch. They also looked the bigger threat in the final third through the lively Cowley.

He shot at the keeper on 15 minutes before Ali then headed over after escaping his marker at a corner five minutes late.

The hosts had the breakthrough their dominance deserved on 31 minutes as Cowley headed home from seven yards out after Reece Hewitt beat his man and delivered from the left.

Cleethorpes never really got going in the first half and saw their only real chance arrive on 34 minutes when the ball was cut back to Marc Cooper in a central position in the box. His powerful drive was well blocked by Luke Edwards to maintain his side's advantage at the break.

However, there was a more even start to the second half as Cleethorpes looked to hold a higher line and find a reaction.

They were level after just 10 minutes as Edwards could only put it past his own keeper as he tried to cut out a cross from Tim Lowe after good build up play down the right.

Rouslers' keeper Ryan Price was then called into action just after the hour mark to turn away an effort from substitute Jack Richardson after he'd been set up by the head of Cooper.

Chances for either side quickly dried up after the leveller as the contest became a true cup scrap.

Sporting, facing a second leg away next weekend, needed to end the stronger and could have regained the lead when Liam Spink got in on 78 minutes but chose to try and find Cowley at the back post when the better option looked to shoot.

Cleethorpes nearly bagged the winner on 82 minutes when Copper beat Price to the ball and was about to roll into an unguarded net as Dan Morris arrived to clear in the nick of time.

Sporting pushed again as the clash drew to a close but couldn't do enough to take an advantage north for the second leg.

Town reacted well in the second half to find a leveller but the Rouslers will look to their chances in the first half when they were well on top as their chance to win it.

Sporting: Price, Roberts, Morris, Ali, Jones (c), Edwards, Spink, Bunn, Cowley, Wills (Shorthouse 59), Hewitt.

Unused Subs: Wilson, Meakin-Richards, Lloyd, Nicol.

Cleethorpes: Higton, Lowe, Winn, Dickens (Richardson 61), Bloomer, Coleman, Davis (Mascall 75), Flett (c), Cooper, Taylor (King 65) ,Oglesby.

Unused Subs: Wressell, Sunter.

Att: 3,349.