BROMSGROVE Sporting boss Paul Smith was far from downhearted following his side's 1-1 draw with Sporting Khalsa.

Smith said: "I thought we shaded the first half - but after the break we were immense. We just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net.

"I kept telling myself that I should be disappointed with the result, but I wasn't, because I couldn't have asked for anything more from my players.

"I look back to last season when we played Sporting Khalsa in the League Cup and they beat us 3-0. It was men against boys.

"This just shows me how far we've come since then.

"The Midland League Premier is a ruthless division this season because there's so many sides who think they can win it.

"Sporting Khalsa were my tip for the title at the start of the season and I still think they'll be up there. But last Saturday's game also proved to me that Sporting are going in the right direction."

They'll be no let up for Sporting this coming Saturday when they travel to Coventry's Butts Arena to take on high flying Coventry United.

The game will be a noon kick-off as United ground share with Coventry Rugby Club.

United are currently second in the table having won five and drawn one of the six league games they've played so far and Smith is under no illusions about the task ahead.

Smith will be missing Joe Ward who sustained a gashed shin and muscle tear during the game with Khalsa which required 19 stitches.

Sporting have also parted company with Chris Lloyd who looks set to join Smithswood Firs.

Smith praised Lloyd's contribution and said: "He scored some very important goal for us last season. Unfortunately his shift pattern has changed with his job at Jaguar which is making it very difficult for him to get to games and training.

"Smithswood is very local for him, in fact I think he can walk to the ground and he goes with our very best wishes for the future."