Bromsgrove Sporting 1, Southam United 1

SPORTING were left ruing a host of missed chances as they could only manage a 1-1 draw versus Southam United in their opening fixture of the Midland Football League Division One.

The Rouslers seemed as though they were picking up from where they left off last season in the early stages of the game. Prolific frontman Sean Brain saw his shot from inside the box cannon off the post on the 15 minute mark.

Frustratingly for the home side, the woodwork was to be a familiar nemesis throughout the afternoon.

The Rouslers’ first league goal of the season came after half an hour.

Midfield maestro Reece Hewitt saw his opportunistic shot from just inside the box go through the goalkeeper’s hands and ricochet off his foot and into the bottom corner.

Sporting almost doubled their lead before the break through Luke Corbett, but keeper James Cutts atoned for his earlier mistake with a solid save at his near post.

The first 15 minutes of the second half saw Sporting continue to dominate play and test the Southam defence.

Corbett was one-on-one with the keeper but put his effort wide of the post, Brain found himself in a similar position but had his shot tipped onto the upright by Cutts and another new signing, the energetic Aaron Roberts, saw his low strike saved.

Corbett failed to capitalise on another golden opportunity as he chipped the ball onto the crossbar with only the keeper to beat once again.

Brain too squandered another chance only a minute later as he struck the ball against the post.

Sporting paid for the wastefulness in the 70th minute, when a pinpoint corner was headed home by Kyle Turner.

Not long after, Southam were reduced to ten men as full back Jack Brighton raised his studs in a tackle.

This resulted in the away side putting almost everybody behind the ball in order to hold on for the point. Hewitt almost added to his tally but once again, the crossbar came to Southam’s rescue as Cutts fumbled the ball onto it.

Sporting could have taken all three points in stoppage time but Brain and Aaron Williams couldn’t find the back of the net. It was a frustrating game for Sporting, who had seen a host of new signings make their competitive debuts.

Sporting: Edwards, Roberts, Kelly, Fitter, Jones, McKeon (Gibson, 82), Adams (Myrie, 61), Hewitt, Corbett (Conway, 61 mins), Brain, Williams. Subs not used: John Pykett, Brendan Bunn.

Goal: Reece Hewitt (30 mins) Southam: Cutts, Brighton, Harvey (lee Thomas 15 mins), Spencer (Capt), Hunt, Crisp, Constable (Grudzinski, 82), Hardie, Turner (Suki Nijjar 86 mins), Evans, Ajibade. Subs not used: Passey, Freeman.

Attendace: 295.

Referee: P Tyler (Worcester) Sporting Man of the Match: Aaron Roberts.