BROMSGROVE Sporting’s three-match winning run came to an end after they suffered a late 2-1 defeat against Lowestoft Town with Joel Kettle sent off in injury-time.
An early goal from Jake Reed put Lowestoft in front before Connor Taylor thought he had rescued a point for Brendan Kelly’s side with his equaliser on 72 minutes.
However, Ryan Hawkins converted a 75th minute penalty to secure the points for Lowestoft before Kettle was sent off at the death after an altercation with Town’s assistant manager.
Defeat leaves Bromsgrove in 10th place in the Southern League Premier Division Central table ahead of their home clash with Banbury United tomorrow night.
Sporting were making their first trip on the road in over a month in the league and despite boss Kelly proclaiming Reed as the league’s ‘best striker’ – there was nothing Bromsgrove could do to stop him.
The talismanic striker opened the scoring after just five minutes when a ball was played in from the right and he found the far corner.
Bromsgrove responded with a chance of their own and should have levelled when Will Shorrock’s free-kick came to Leon Broadhurst only for the defender to head wide from inside the six-yard box.
Sporting dominated the remainder of the first-half but could not find the equaliser that they craved as Nathan Hayward and Jack Hallahan both shot wide from outside the area.
The visitors picked up where they left off after the break with Hallahan denied by the post from close range as Bromsgrove came within inches of bringing the game level.
Lowestoft then had a chance to double their lead when the impressive Kieran Higgs burst through only to fire wide of Akos Onodi’s goal.
And Sporting made the Trawlerboys pay for that missed opportunity on 72 minutes when some excellent play between Taylor and Demetri Brown ended with the former finding the net.
However, parity was restored for all of three minutes after James Mace pulled on the shirt of Higgs in the box to give Lowestoft the chance to restore their lead from the penalty spot.
The resulting spot kick was duly converted by Hawkins – who sent Okodi the wrong way – before Sporting came desperately close to grabbing a second equaliser in injury-time.
Substitute Jourdain Masidi hit the bar in the first minute of added time after an excellent free-kick was crossed into the far post from the right.
Unfortunately, the game ended in an ugly fashion after Kettle received his marching orders following a coming together with Lowestoft assistant manager Andy Reynolds who was shown a yellow card.
That led to a fracas between both sets of players as Lowestoft held on for the final few seconds to secure the points.
Bromsgrove are back in action tomorrow night, Tuesday, October 12 when they host Banbury United at the Victoria Ground with kick-off at 7:45pm.
Tuesday night’s match will also provide supporters with another chance to buy tickets for Sporting’s FA Cup match at home to National League leaders Grimsby Town this Saturday, October 16 with kick-off at 12:30pm.
