Meir’s probing looked to have got through the heart of Brocton’s defence until Tom Kent won the ball and immediately set Scott off on the right. Scott’s gamble paid off as he raced on when his marker, looking set to cut out the pass, slipped at the last moment. Scott’s shot was well blocked by the keeper but he was fortunate indeed that the rebound from Andy Harrison went wide of the post. Gary Fife, keeping the ball under close control caused nerves to jangle as he jinked his way through the centre, but he was tripped just as he approached the danger area. The subsequent free kick, hit low to Steve Bennett, was struck across a crowded goal mouth but could not be forced home.

It was not until the 35th minute that the deadlock was broken. Andy Harrison did well to win a corner and from the corner the ball simply could not be cleared. Three shots rained in and were half cleared before Lee Scott hit the decisive one low to the keeper’s left.

Brocton barely had time to celebrate though before Meir were back on terms. A pass out from the back was gifted to the visitors and the Brocton defence quickly set back on their heels. The gift seemed to have been spurned as a swift attempt at a forward pass was misplaced and Brocton looked favourite to clear. Another slip left David Coulston one on one with Mike Shelper and Coulston kept his composure to side step Shelper and pass the ball into an unguarded net.

Just as the half time whistle was about to go Brocton once again took the lead when Gary Fife produced another fine cross ball cutting out the defence and delivering into to Steve Allen’s path. Allen set himself and hit a volley low into the net for the goal of the night.

The second period continued with similar pace and endeavour without either side quite creating the chances of the first period. Brocton’s best move of that period involved substitute Richard Miller, linking first with Richard Jones from the back and then with Andy Harrison before hitting the side netting with the keeper at full stretch.

Meir battled on and could have pinched an equaliser almost on full time when a free kick drifted over Brocton’s back line and what looked like a free unmarked header right in front of goal was just inches too high and went harmlessly wide.

Brocton 2 v 1 Meir KA