BROMSGROVE Sporting were edged out 1-0 by league leaders Tamworth as the Rouslers saw their four-match unbeaten run come to an end.
Daniel Creaney scored the game’s only goal on 40 minutes at the Lamb Ground as Sporting handed a first-team debut to academy graduate Blake Kindred from the bench.
The result means Sporting sit 13th in the Southern League Premier Central table.
Player-manager Mike McGrath was suspended whilst Jack Newell failed a late fitness test, Callum King-Harmes was unavailable and Nathan Kabeya was recalled by parent club Lincoln City to leave the Rouslers down to the bare bones.
However, Sporting gave a good account of themselves as captain Tom Taylor made some excellent blocks and Ollie Taylor produced numerous saves to keep the scores level.
And Ammar Dyer then made a crucial clearance off the line to keep the game scoreless from Callum Cockerill-Mollett’s effort.
Sporting keeper Taylor then made a smart save low down to his right to keep out Alex Collard’s header as the pressure began to mount.
However, Tamworth scored a controversial opener just before half time when Sporting were awarded a free-kick and Dyer tapped the ball towards Taylor as the keeper came out to take the set-piece.
The referee deemed that Dyer had taken the free-kick short which allowed Creaney to capitalise as he intercepted the ball and found the net with Taylor stranded.
Despite this setback, Sporting played with confidence in the second half as both Jack Tolley and Brandon Smalley forced Tamworth goalkeeper Jasbir Singh into a pair of good low saves.
The home side almost sealed the points late on only for Taylor to make a stunning fingertip save to deny former Alvechurch man Jamie Willetts.
And Sporting handed a derbut to academy player Kindred with two minutes of normal time remaining having travelled with the squad over the past few weeks.
Bromsgrove are next in action at home to Stratford Town TONIGHT (Tuesday, February 28) with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Victoria Ground.
