Until that point the visitors had looked the brighter side with Andre Campbell on the right flank drawing a series of fouls from his marker and clearly troubling him for pace. As early as the 5th minute Campbell had raced clear and put in a hard, low cross, but beat everybody including his fellow strikers.

Barnt Green’s lead, gained in the 10th minute, lasted only 5 as Richard Reeves sent a throw deep into the area, which could only be helped on by the defence, who found Gary Fife in space at the far edge of the box. He hit his shot hard and true and Brocton were level.

On 25 minutes, after Andy Harrison had battled through a series of tackles on the left and fed Steve Bennett, Brocton looked set to take the lead, but a brave dive at Bennett’s feet prevented the score. Another huge clearance followed and a shot on the half volley was deflected beyond Mike Shelper, but over the bar for a corner, which Brocton dealt with easily enough. In contrast Jon Wylde put a corner into Gary Fife’s path moments later and Fife struck a fierce shot low and hard, but fortunately for the home side, central and it too was dealt with easily enough.

In the second half Barnt Green continued to look threatening with their mixture of bright movement, good close control and use of the long ball into the channels. But it was Brocton who first came close to scoring with only a trio of superb saves and unbelievable off the line clearances which kept them in the game.

The first of these came as early as 4 minutes into the half when a free kick found its way through the defensive wall. To further confound the keeper, the ball took a deflection and although that reduced the pace, it took a fine late change of direction and excellent save to keep it out. Jonathan Wylde then popped up on the edge of the box and produced a full blooded drive which was headed right for the top left corner of the net. A full length dive from nowhere plucked the ball from the verge of the goal line to touch it out. On 19 minutes a throw was headed on and the downward volley from well inside the box was destined for the back of the net, the keeper beaten, but a fine clearance off the line put the ball out for a corner.

Barnt Green then broke through themselves with a gilt edged chance when Richard Jones, otherwise immaculate at right back, was finally left behind and the cross from the left was true. The ball was collected in the box with only Shelper to beat, but he spread himself and blocked a point blank shot.