After last weeks cup disappointment Sporting returned to league action away at Sproughton Sports. Last year Sporting ran out 6-2 winners in one of their best footballing performances of the season. Sporting started off brightly passing the ball around confidently playing their way out of trouble on several occassions. Nick Bailey was proving a constant threat down the right, beating his man time and time again. However Sporting couldn't find the final ball. The best chance of the first half falling to David Taylor who could only divert his header over the bar. A changed midfield with Nolan and Lovejoy replacing the injured Parker and ill Ginn were battling well and giving Sporting a platform. And the defence, well mastered again by Honeyball with the ever reliable Rodwell and returning Stebbings were coping well until the Sproughton number 9 led them all on a merry dance before beating 'keeper page with aplomb. Before half time referee White had to caution both Sproughton forwards for continual decent as their frustrations at not being able to free themselves from the attention of the Sporting backline started to boil over.
1-0 down at half time. Manager Ginn's message was simple. Keep doing what you are doing, win your personal battles and will someone please make a run across the near post. He also commented "keep your discipline, there is no way they will finish this game with 11 men." One might say almost prophetic.
Sporting came out of the traps flying and were soon level when the Sproughton full back played a suicidal ball across his own 6 yard box to Bailey, the finish was inevitable. However Sproughton showed why they had not lost a game all season and quickly hit back from a free-kick. The ball was played in and a free header gave Page no chance. The end to end action continued as Sporting quickly regained the ascendancy when Bailey chased a lost cause, lobbing the 'keeper for the same Sproughton full back to volley into his own net.
Then came a huge moment in the match. Page scuffed his kick straight to the Sproughton forward, who raced through on goal, Page rushed out to meet him and has the lob cleared him stuck out a big hand to turn the ball wide. Moments later Sporting were infront as James Price, on for the injured Herrera, battled for the ball on the left flank, played a delightful ball through to Bailey whose assured lob gave Sporting the lead.
Moments later the tide had firmly turned in Sportings favour as another foul mouthed tirade by the Sproughton number 10 resulted in referee White showing him a second yellow. Playing against 10 men the inexhaustable Manning, Smith and Bailey were having a field day. Bailey completed a deserved hat-trik when Page's long punt down field evaded the entire Sproughton defence leaving Bailey to lob the keeper.
Sporting closed out the match with ease and inflicted Sproughton's first defeat of the season. Man of the match was a close affair with votes spread between Bailey, Honeyball, Manning, Lovejoy, Nolan and Page.
A superb all round performance. More of the same will be required next week as Sporting take on the runaway leaders.
