Brocton 1 GSA Sports 0

Brocton chalked up there 6^th win of the season with this narrow defeat of bottom of the table GSA Sports. The visitors had a change of management in the week and their team showed 11 changes from that published in the programme. They were clearly fired up and started the game in lively fashion.

The Badgers however got into their stride and both Jon Hodnett and Adam McMahon had early chances and forced a double save from Paul Hewitt in goal for GSA. Hodnett again tested Hewitt with a snap shot on 9 minutes.

GSA then had a good spell putting together some good passing moves that resulted in chances for Javed Farrell and then Aaron Grey but on each occasion they were thwarted by the Badgers backline.

The play switched from end to end as Brocton keeper Mike Shelper saved well to deny Marcus Thompson and at the other end GSA centre half Leon Sewell miscued a header over his own bar as Brocton piled on the pressure.

Brocton then took a quick free kick finding Danny McLeod who had made an intelligent run down the right. His cross shot caused havoc in the GSA box and the ball eventually went over the bar for a corner. The flag lick was cleared to Gary Fife who was fully 35 yards from goal who struck a superb volley that flew past a bewildered Paul Hewitt into the bottom corner of the net to give the Badgers a 37^th minute lead.

Charlie Jones then had a good run at the visitors defence but Brocton could not capitalise and GSA stepped up their game in an attempt to get back on terms. Shelper saved from Marcus Thompson at the expense of a corner and then a free kick from Craig Nicholls found Leon Sewell unmarked on the far post but his shot hit the side netting. Jon Hodnett then ran at the GSA defence and his cross was only half cleared allowing Jermaine Bowen to get in a powerful shot that was inches wide of the post.

Brocton brought substitutes Jon Wylde and Ashley Phillips on at the start of the second half but GSA were doing most of the pressing and Shelper saved well from Craig  Nicholls to keep them at bay.

GSA’s Gary Joynes was booked for a trip on Adam McMahon as the Brocton forward threatened to break clear. Badgers Player-Manager Dave Berks then came off the bench for the closing stages to help steady the ship and was soon in the thick of the action curling in a couple of right wing corners that had the GSA defence struggling. Adam McMahon then set up a chance for Jermaine Bowen but Hewitt saved his effort at the expense of a corner.

In the end it was fitting that there were no more goals, as Fife’s super-strike was worthy of winning any match.