In what was Sporting's biggest game of the season so far, expectations were high and a disciplined performance would be required in order to overcome a Bacton side who had drawn with league high flyers Chantry Grasshoppers the previous week.
Manager Mark Crawford took a large contingent to the Victory Sports Ground in order to cover every eventuality. The biggest surprise of the afternoon came with omission of Sporting's hat-trick hero Barton from this weeks starting line up.
Crawford again utilised his 4-3-2-1 formation against a Bacton side not short on talent, he would hope to build off of a sturdy defence. Only time would tell.
The referee, a Mr J. Driver opened proceedings and the game began, early signs showed some promise from Sporting as they pressed and stretched Bacton well in the opening encounters. This game however soon turned into a sluggers match as the teams traded blows, one attacking after the other. Sporting could not hold onto possession and left Manning and Krogh isolated and frustrated on the wings. Sporting's midfield three of Benwell, Rodwell and Lovejoy battled hard and won several key challenges in the middle to stem the tide of Bacton's attacks. Stebbings showed his array of talents as he looked to break down play and made several fine interceptions. Brown showed his authority as time and again he closed down and beat away Bacton, Bryson worked well down the left with Manning and after some further interplay with Bailey a chance emerged as the ball broke to Benwell who’s shot was unlucky to find the keepers hands. A signal of intent for a Sporting side showing few ideas in the final third of the pitch.
All was to be undone however when midway throughout the half Sporting conceded a corner which was whipped in and narrowly avoided Ginn and Lovejoy before landing firmly on the head of a Bacton player and flew into the back of Page's net. Sporting found themselves in an uncomfortable position with them struggling to create and being a goal down.
At half time Manager Mark Crawford made some wholesale changes and he re-employed his tried and tested 4-4-1-1 and brought Barton and Nolan on for Ginn (injury) and Rodwell respectively with Benwell dropping into defence alongside the towering Brown.
The second half showed more promise in the early stages as Manning worked tirelessly down the left and the introduction Barton stretching Bacton's back line leaving Bailey much more room in behind. Some sterling defending from Brown led to a break and Sporting charged up the pitch only to be stopped in their tracks from some good interceptions and closing down.
The game flowed back and forth with neither side looking like scoring, Krogh was allowed to run down the right flank and whip in a ball only for it to be gathered up by Bacton's keeper. Manning also had a pop as he found himself unmarked at the back post but to no avail. Nolan tried his best to stretch play and utilise the wings but his pass for Manning fell agonisingly short. In the last 15 minutes of the game it looked as though Bacton would see out another win however Sporting had not made a habit of losing and on 81 minutes Barton found himself in too much space and unleashed a spectacular curling effort (that fizzed and dipped) from the edge of the box and flew past Bacton's keeper and into the top corner. Sporting back in the game at the last and now they had tasted a goal they wanted more and surged forward, relentless in their pursuit of the winner. Bacton looked as though they had given up and Bailey smelt and opportunity. on 87 minutes, like a gazelle he glided past Bacton's defence and released a snipers effort direct into the bottom left corner of Bacton's net, leaving the keeper and Bacton stunned.
The turnaround confirmed as the whistle blew and jubilations could be seen on the sidelines.
After a hard fought victory and a little luck Sporting have maintained their fine run and can now look at finishing the year off with a 100% rate in the months of November and December.
Manager Mark Crawford's Christmas target of top 4 can be achieved but only with more hard work and focus, games against Salvation Army and Elmsett will not be easy.
