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