Bromsgrove Sporting 3, Atherstone 1

SUPER-SUB Dale Edwards inspired a Bromsgrove Sporting fight back at the Victoria Ground as they stunned Atherstone.

The Rouslers had been trailing 1-0 after Liam Bailey's first half effort.

But after an out of sorts first half display, the hosts improved dramatically to record three points in the Midlands Division One.

The turning point was a missed Atherstone penalty midway through the second half as goals for Kyle Turner, the impressive Edwards and Sean Brain sealed the fight back.

Atherstone had the best of the first half as the hosts struggled for confidence.

Too often poor passing by Sporting allowed the Adders to pile on the pressure.

Sporting had the first shot in the sixth minute when Turner steered a pacey ball from Brendan Kelly over the bar.

The home side had a decent shout for a penalty dismissed by the referee in the 20th minute. Connor Collins was pulled back by keeper Phil Smith but the official was having none of it and waved play on.

But the visitors from Warwickshire took control of the game and created a good chance in the 21st minute when Alan Miller raced onto David Boal's incisive pass, only for keeper Josh Moreton to deny him.

Moreton was called into action in the 25th minute, diving full length to push away a stinging shot from Kurt Mewies.

Sporting left-back Jack Wilson saw an effort saved by Atherstone's keeper but the away team opened the scoring in the 29th minute.

In a swift counter-attack, Boal delivered a teasing low cross that Bailey slid into the back of the net.

Sporting should have levelled almost immediately but Turner shot straight at Lee Waters on the line after good work by Brain to tee him up.

Craig Jones saw a header hit the bar from a corner, while Collins headed a difficult chance over on the stroke of half-time.

Sporting made a change at the break, taking off the injured Spink for Edwards, a move which saw Sam Wills slot into central midfield.

The midfielder's accurate passing providing the ammunition Bromsgrove's attackers had been crying out for and they poured forward in search of goals.

Edwards nearly levelled in the 51st minute when his well-struck free-kick arrowed towards the top corner, only for Smith to athletically deny him.

Bromsgrove were left cursing their luck when Atherstone were awarded a soft looking penalty after a Craig Jones challenge.

But Luke Tyler steered the spot-kick wide as Sporting earned a reprieve.

The miss spurred on the home team and after a period of pressure the made it 1-1 in the 74th minute.

Brain finished from close range after a fine Aaron Roberts corner.

Edwards nearly fired them ahead in the 78th minute but Smith denied him with a fine save.

But the hosts took a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute when Edwards crossed and Turner finished in style.

Atherstone were the reduced to ten men when keeper Smith was dismissed for wrestling with Edwards, who was also shown a yellow for his part in the incident.

But the Sporting attacker sealed a remarkable fight back when he slotted home a third goal in the 85th minute past replacement stopper Lloyd Storey.

Bromsgrove were reduced to ten men when Luke Dugmore was shown a second yellow card.

SPORTING: Moreton, Roberts, Wilson, Wilson, Dugmore, Jones, Kelly, Brain, Wills, Collins, Turner (Hanks, 88), Spink (Edwards, 46).

Subs not used: Delaney, Pierpoint, Jay.

ATHERSTONE: Smith, Mewies (O'Connor, 73), Waters, Gray, White, Bailey, Abbott (Storey, 83) , Latham, Miller, Boal (Bloore, 63), Tyler.

Subs not used: Ball, Storey, Brindley.

Referee: Liam Terraud (Halesowen)