BROMSGROVE Sporting geared up for a local derby at Redditch United this weekend with a 1-1 friendly draw against Walsall Wood.
Rouslers player-manager Mike McGrath arranged a midweek friendly with Midland Football League Premier Division side Walsall after Sporting’s game against AFC Rushden and Diamonds was postponed due to a frozen pitch last weekend.
However, the Victoria Ground has since thawed out and afforded McGrath’s side a chance to build up some match sharpness ahead of the crunch clash with Redditch this weekend.
The pitch passed a pitch inspection late on Tuesday afternoon (January 24) with Walsall, who play two levels below Sporting, currently eight points clear at the top of their league.
And the game was played despite the presence of fog which hung over the ground for the duration of the 90 minutes.
Both teams spurned numerous chances in the first half as Ollie Taylor made a couple of fine saves in the Sporting goal.
However, Walsall eventually broke the deadlock in first-half injury time as the visitors scored from the penalty spot, despite Taylor diving the right way and getting a hand on the ball, after Kartell Dawkins made a clumsy challenge in the box.
The Rouslers drew level with five minutes left to play as Ammar Dyer picked out the top left corner from the edge of the penalty area to score a sensational equaliser.
Sporting are next in action against rivals Redditch on Saturday, January 28 with kick-off at 3pm at the Trico Stadium.
