Football
Sporting face Lichfield test

BROMSGROVE Sporting warmed up for tomorrow’s tough trip to Midland Combination Division One rivals Lichfield City with a 5-2 victory at home against Hampton on Saturday, writes Peter Bateman.

The victory, Sporting’s tenth of the league campaign, leaves them fourth in the table, one place and one point above tomorrow’s opponents but they have played three games more.

Debutant Chris Conway was the star of the show against Hampton as he claimed a hat-trick to go with goals from Kevin Banner and Robbie Hendry.

The afternoon did not get off to the best of starts for the Rouslers who fell behind in the 13th minute when Scott Mansell took advantage of a defensive error to fire past Grant Biddle.

Sporting levelled almost instantly though as Conway turned in Banner’s low centre moments after forcing Lewis into a fine save at the foot of the post.

Banner edged the home side ahead two minutes before the break when curling home a low free kick after Liam Mansell committed a foul on the edge of the box.

The early stages of the second half belonged to the home side and they nearly made it 3-1 on the hour when Banner’s shot came back off the inside of the post after he had been cleverly released by Conway.

Hampton almost scored themselves two minutes later though when a near post volley from a corner flew just wide of the far post.

Sporting finally scored the third goal their play deserved in the 71st minute when Conway finished well after good work from Bradley Williamson and that should have been that.

But Hampton got themselves back in the contest two minutes later when Williams’ scored with a 20-yard shot that bounced awkwardly in front of Biddle.

Conway calmed any nerves with his hat-trick strike in the 81st minute after Shaw’s shot had been saved and substitute Hendry wrapped things up three minutes from time.