An initially hesitant Feckenham side, clearly lacking in confidence, relied heavily on a fine performance from both centre back and goal keeper. By the quarter hour both Lee Scott and Steve Bennett had good opportunities but neither could beat an inspired keeper. Scott’s chance came as he darted into the box onto a through ball. The keeper was out smartly and Scott lifted the ball over him, but also over the bar. Bennett’s came from a throw which found him unmarked on the edge of the box. He got his shot away and on target, but again the keeper was well placed to take it from just beneath the bar. Scott was put in again on 20 minutes as Steve Allen put the ball nicely into his stride. The keeper save dwell with the minimum of fuss.

The Feckenham defence then nearly created an opportunity for their hosts as if to apologise for spoiling earlier efforts when the ball looked simple enough to clear but a misunderstanding led to a hasty corner being conceded as the Brocton forewards smelled a possible opening.

Then, just as the half drew to a close, Steve Bennett lobbed the ball forward for Scott to run on to and cutting out the whole of the Feckenham back line. Scott and keeper jumped together to head the ball and it was clear to see that the winning header would either clear the danger or score. Neither contact and the ball ran loose to be cleared away by a grateful returning defender.

The visitors played with a little more confidence and purpose in the second half and forced a number of corners before a Steve Bennett free kick just outside the box gave Brocton another chance to grab the lead. The strike was hit well enough, but once again the keeper was well placed and made light of a take beneath the bar.

Richard Miller did manage to get the ball into the net following a neat move between Steve Bennett and Andy Hume and finishing with Miller nipping into the box and tapping home, but he was off side.

It looked then that Lee Scott would have the final word as his run through the back line was timed to perfection and he managed to keep control of the ball and maintain his distance from a retreating defence. One on one with the keeper, he just took his eye off the ball at the vital moment and once again was forced to shoot tamely straight at the keeper.

Then in the dying moments Steve Bennett worked hard to find space in the danger area and attempted to lob the advancing keeper only to find his effort directed wide and straight to a grateful left full back. It just was not a day for goals.

Brocton 0 v 0 Feckenham

Brocton took the field after a period of indifferent form against a Massey Ferguson side with an even worse run. It was the visitors who settled quickly and for half an hour played some of their best football for a long time. Passes were inch perfect and decisive and both sections of a modest crowd were thoroughly entertained.

The opening goal, when it came on 10 minutes, typified the action preceding it. The ball was stroked all along the floor of probably the best pitch in the league, to Gary Fife on the left flank. Fife moved forward and cut inside before delivering a defence splitting pass across to the right and perfectly into the path of Steve Allen. The Massey keeper was alert to the danger and came out to close the angle, but Allen hit his shot low to the keeper’s left and into the bottom right corner of the net.

For the first time in the match to date, Brocton showed a little of their recent frailty as a square pass across the centre of midfield had Richard Jones stretching to reach it. Massey’s nimble left midfielder nipped in to intercept leaving Jones stranded and with the field opening up alarmingly in front of him, got into shooting position with Mike Shelper in Brocton’s goal similarly being alert and closing his angle. The shot went across Shelper, but his angles had been good and the effort went wide.

James Dyke, playing a vital part in the urgent accurate passing game to date, strode through central midfield himself on the 20 minute mark, before slipping the ball right to Andy Harrison. Harrison’s quick stride forwards and shot across the goal looked destined for the far corner but Gary Fife, backing up on the left, met it and made absolutely sure.

On 27 minutes the Badgers looked to have sealed the game when Steve Allen on the right found Andy Harrison inside and Harrison niftily passed the ball on to Steve Bennett. Bennett got to the edge of the box and once again slipped the ball past an advancing keeper, but this time the ball also slid past the post. Gary Fife the reached the bye line on the left in the very next attack and James Dyke threw himself at Fife’s cross, but the effort skimmed his head just inches from goal as it ran safe.

Massey Ferguson relieved the pressure with a run and eventual corner on Brocton’s left and then stunned the Badgers with a deflected shot from deep as the ball was swung away from goal.

In the second period that reduced lead to just the one goal advantage seemed to affect both sides. Massey Ferguson grew in confidence, looked sharper and quicker all over the pitch, whilst Brocton suddenly looked hesitant and their passing game disappeared to be replaced with longer and more wayward style. When Massey brought the game level just 5 minutes into the half their renewed optimism was clear to see.

Brocton still made more chances. Steve Allen was put through by Steve Bennett on the hour and in the first half hour that same move would have paid off, but now the Massey keeper seemed huge and his block looked inevitable.

A huge clearance from him was allowed to bounce and the chase through and winning goal for the home side left the visitors to rue those earlier missed chances.

Brocton 2 v 3 Massey Ferguson

Saturday 5th April Brocton v Bolehall Swifts

Brocton had the first of the early half chances as Steve Bennett took the ball in a dangerous position and turned in a sharp left foot cross defeating both defence and attack alike. Lee Scot then raced free but was unable to reach a pass through into his path and that led directly to a great chance for Bolehall. Just beyond Scott’s reach the keeper cleared and the first bounce of the ball favoured the visitors and put Mike Shelper under immediate pressure in goal for Brocton. Only a smart one handed save and a follow up save with his legs prevented the visitors taking the lead.

Lee Scott soon made amends as a fine pass into his path from Steve Allen left him with space to run into. He still had plenty to do, needing to head the ball forward for himself and then chip an advancing keeper, but Brocton were in front.

Scott nipped in again moments later as a neat and quickly taken free kick from Dave Berks found him free in the box, but he was adjudged off side. Andy Chandler broke up Bolehall’s next foray and slipped the ball to Matt Skinner to his left. Skinner popped the ball over the defensive line and Steve Bennett got to it first and with his left foot chipped the ball once again over the advancing keeper, but this time it went wide.

Almost on the half time whistle with Brocton feeling that they should be comfortable and wondering whether their inability to finish the visitors off would cause problems later, Scott was through again. This time it was a back pass which fell short of the keeper and the alert Scott tried to nip it away. The keeper did well to it off his toes as the period ended.

Matt Skinner picked up an injury early in the second period and while Brocton were reduced in numbers Bolehall threatened again, hitting the top of the bar from distance. Then a free kick for the visitor was hit deep and Richard Jones , left with two to mark, did just enough to force a header wide of the post.

Bolehall looked good in the approach, but their final ball continued to be comfortably cleared, whilst the home side, relying on the pace of Lee Scott and the guile of Steve Bennett kept manufacturing golden opportunities in front of goal. It simply would not go in as both did all the hard work to get into scoring positions only to see their finall efforts go wide or over the bar.

It was a free kick for obstruction against substitute Gary Fife which finally brought Bolehall back level as Larkins’ left footed free kick curled over the wall and high into the net leaving Mike Shelper unable to prevent the strike.

Gary Fife nearly made amends with a free kick of his own, deep beyond all the defenders for that man Scott to meet on the half volley. Somehow the ball rebounded back onto Scott and out for a goal kick. Then Steve Bennett was through and his shot was misjudged by the keeper, who still stayed alert enough to get the sole of a foot on it and prevent it from going in.

Scott almost had the last word as well, sprinting completely clear with the final whistle already to the referee’s lips. As he paused to pick his spot a superb saving tackle whipped the ball from his feet and honours were even.

Brocton 1 v 1 Bolehall Swifts