BROMSGROVE Sporting slipped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat away at AFC Sudbury as the Rouslers saw their three-game unbeaten run come to an end.
Sudbury striker Joe Neal scored a goal in either half to condemn Sporting to defeat at the MEL Group Stadium.
The result means Bromsgrove sit 11th in the Southern League Premier Central table, five points outside of the play-off places.
Chances were at a premium in the first half-hour with Conor Tee looking lively for Sporting and Adam Mills the home side’s danger man.
Sporting went close to breaking the deadlock soon after as Callum King-Harmes fired narrowly over the bar.
However, Sudbury took the lead on 38 minutes when Neal fired past Ollie Taylor in the Rouslers goal after Mills collected Aksum White’s stray pass deep in the Sporting half.
The visitors searched for a leveller before the break only for Aaron Roberts to see his shot cleared off the line.
Sudbury almost doubled their lead just before the hour mark with Reuben Marshall going close as the home side looked to threaten on the counter attack.
Sporting’s best chance fell to King-Harmes who thought he had drawn the Rouslers level only for his shot to find the side netting.
Player-manager Mike McGrath made three attacking substitutes in an attempt to rescue a point as forward players Keiron Berry, Miro Pais and Elliott Ball all entered the fray.
However, Sudbury put the game to bed on 81 minutes as Neal squeezed an effort past Taylor from Mills’ cross after the latter collected a poor Sporting clearance.
Substitute Berry almost reduced the deficit late on before Ben O’Hanlon limped off with a thigh injury in injury time to compound Sporting’s misery.
Bromsgrove are next in action at home to Stratford Town on Saturday, November 11 with kick-off at 3pm at the Victoria Ground.
