BROMSGROVE Sporting saw their eight-game unbeaten run come to an end at the hands of Stourbridge as they suffered a 2-0 defeat in front of 1,668 fans at the Victoria Ground.
Goals from Reece Styche and Montel Gibson inflicted a first league defeat on the Rouslers since Gavin Hurren’s arrival as manager who had Jack Newell sent off early in the second half.
The result means Sporting are now 14th in the Southern League Premier Central table, five points clear of the relegation zone.
Managed by former Bromsgrove captain Leon Broadhurst, the post-Christmas clash was set to be a tasty affair.
And the two teams traded early chances with Jamie Molyneux and Nathan Hayward both denied by Stourbridge goalkeeper Charlie Price before Rouslers keeper Ollie Taylor kept out efforts from Kayo Brown and Styche.
Sporting came close to taking the lead just before the half hour mark when Molyneux’s cross was almost bundled in by Will Shorrock only for a last-ditch block to keep the scores level.
And Stourbridge took the lead on 33 minutes when Gibraltar international Styche found the bottom corner from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the box by Tom Taylor.
Sporting stopper O. Taylor made another fine stop to keep his side in the contest shortly before the break, denying Joe Hull’s headed effort with a diving save.
However, the home side were reduced to 10-men on 48 minutes when Newell was shown a straight red card after he was adjudged to be the last man when bringing down Styche.
The visitors then spurned a host of chances, the best of which saw Styche hit the crossbar, before Gibson wrapped up the points on 77 minutes when he rounded Taylor and finished into an empty net.
Sporting are next in action away at Stratford Town on New Year’s Day with kick-off at 1pm at the Arden Garages Stadium.
Report sourced by Max Banner.
