With just one point between these two teams, this promised to be a close fought encounter and so it proved. Cadbury had the better of the early play with good movement off the ball and an ability and willingness to use the full width of the pitch as they probed for an opening. The Badgers matched the home side for pace however and whilst the back four looked as solid as usual, it was the midfield which stood out for their defensive work.

Andy Harrison was fouled just inside the Cadbury half on 17 minutes and Gary Fife showed how penetrative he can be from free kicks. It was hit across the box and although the keeper was tempted to come, it was too far away. Richard Reeves arrived and timed his jump to perfection as he thumped his header down and home.

Neil Rolston got in a telling cross on 23 minutes, cut out by a defender at full stretch, but the resulting corner was met again by Reeves’ head. The keeper was well placed and his legs prevented a repeat of the earlier result. Just two minutes later with Brocton now in full flow, another Gary Fife free kick, this time just inside the near post, had Andy Harrison a whisker away from glancing it in.

Cadbury were never out of the action for long and it was Mike Shelper who next needed his legs to keep out a shot on goal after a well worked overlap on the right. Shelper then found Steve Bennett with a mighty kick and Bennett controlled and found Ben Harrison almost in one move. Harrison got in a shot on goal and the Cadbury keeper blocked well at his near post.

The home side got their reward just before the break from a huge clearance when Williams allowed it to strike his foot just before the ball bounced and as the ball rose invitingly spun and shot in a single movement fully thirty yards from goal. Shelper scrambled across, having seen the danger of the looping shot late, but was unable to keep it out.

Brocton picked up the gauntlet in the second period and it took the woodwork to deny Andy Harrison from the first meaningful action of the half. A fine acrobatic save from Cadbury’s keeper then kept him out once again on 55 minutes when Harrison’s turn and shot was well directed inside the post, but just scuffed enough to give the home keeper a chance.

On 17 minutes it was Matt Skinner who set things in motion along the left touch line, finding Gary Fife in midfield, who quickly put the ball into the run of Neil Rolston. His shot bringing another excellent full length save form the keeper, although he could only fend it away and Rolston himself had a second bite but found the top of the net above the bar with all the visiting crowd willing it to be in.

The visitors continued to find scoring opportunities and thought that they had earned a penalty but a well placed referee waved away appeals. Jonathan Wylde then fell awkwardly and despite making a brief return to the field after treatment to his shoulder, had to come off; his replacement, Rich Miller, showing Brocton’s attacking intent.

Cadbury’s own attacking movement and intent played a full part in a high quality game and the home side had a glorious opportunity to pitch all the points late in the second half, when a move down the right produced a low shot come cross which had Mike Shelper save full length, but Brocton were able to clear. Then almost at full time, Brocton’s team spirit was epitomised by Andy Harrison, when he popped up in the left back position to help ensure that the Badgers kept at least their hard won point.

Cadbury Athletic 1 v 1 Brocton