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