BROMSGROVE Sporting chalked up their second consecutive win under new manager Tim Flowers as they beat Hitchin Town 2-1 at Top Field, writes Max Banner.
Keanu Cooper gave the visitors the lead early in the second half before Jack Snelus levelled proceedings in the 65th minute.
The winner in the Southern League Premier Division Central fixture was scored 10 minutes later as former Kidderminster Harriers forward Nathan Blissett confidently struck a penalty home.
The third minute saw Sporting skipper Luke Rowe have a free-kick tipped out for a corner while Ollie Taylor had to be alert to brilliantly keep out a Snelus effort from close range eight minutes later.
The 34th minute saw Finn Howell curl a free-kick from just outside the area narrowly over the bar.
Sporting were reduced to 10 men in the opening minute of first-half added time as Miro Pais was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card.
The second half got off to the best possible start for the Rouslers as Cooper capped an impressive run towards goal with a well-taken effort that went through keeper Charlie Horlock's legs.
Snelus had an opportunity to equalise in the 63rd minute but his effort was kept out.
But Snelus would only have to wait two minutes for his goal as he was on hand to slot a rebound into the bottom corner after Isaac Galliford had a strike saved by Taylor.
In the 70th minute Bromsgrove had a huge chance to take the lead when Finn Howell's excellent free-kick was headed on by Blissett which Horlock made contact with.
The ball then trickled tantalisingly close to the goal line but Aaron Roberts was just beaten to it by a Hitchin defender.
The winner came five minutes later as Blissett serenely slotted a spot-kick down the centre of the goal after lively substitute Billy Shaw was brought down in the area by Josh Popoola.
Snelus had a final opportunity to salvage a point in the seventh minute of additional time but he could not find the target with his shot from close range.
Fourteenth-placed Sporting's next game is at home to struggling Berkhamsted at the Victoria Ground on Saturday, March 9 (3pm).
Sporting: Taylor, Derricott, Howell, Rowe (capt), Roberts, Soladami, Bruck (Shaw 65), Abimbola, Blissett, Cooper (Newell 82), Pais. Unused substitutes: White, Leachman-Whittingham, Lekuti.
Referee: Mr M Stetakovic.
Sporting player of the match: Finn Howell.
Attendance: 611.
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