Brocton 3 Walsall Wood 1 

Just minutes into the game Lee Scott showed his pace as he ran free on the right flank and crossed deep into Walsall Wood’s area behind their retreating defence and handily for the advancing Brocton forwards. Mick Fox was perfectly positioned and rose to head a certain goal, only to have a tremendous last moment challenge as he made contact with the ball. Both defender and Fox needed treatment, but both attacking move and defence were impeccable.

The resulting corner was all but put in at the far post, but for another fine last ditch block, but the second corner was beaten away and the swift break needed Andy Chandler at the heart of Brocton’s defence to clear when Wood had an overlap.

The cut and thrust of an end to end game continued in that vein until the 27th minute when Gary Fife, on the centre line, found the feet of Lee Scott whose dart across the pitch made him impossible to mark. Scott took the ball in his stride and rode three tackles before shooting from the very edge of the box. His shot was blocked, but the loose ball was collected by Fife, who calmly placed it into Scott’s path as he dipped to head down and into the net.

An Ashley Phillips throw on the right was swept across to the left as Brocton looked to capitalise on their advantage, but an overlapping Matt Skinner could not quite sort out his feet at full tilt to get a shot in from an ever narrowing angle.

Phillips was then involved again on the half way line as he fed the rampant Scott, who got free and into the box unchallenged, but presented with almost too many options, the goal at his mercy and both Fife and Fox available for a pass, he delayed a moment too long and the chance was smothered.

Walsall Wood were by no means out of this game and each break, particularly if it  involved Luke Bradley provided dangerous moments for the home side, but it was a wickedly deflected shot from Ian Purvey which spun over a helpless Mike Shelper to bring the visitors a lifeline on the stroke of half time.

The last minute goal should have lifted Walsall Wood and deflated Brocton, but it was the home side who were quickly into their stride and right from the kick off reached the box and an unusually wayward strike from Fife went wide. The move of the match followed on 53 minutes though, as Karl Mcloud at right back found Fife with a deep cross field pass, from where Fife crossed back to find Charlie Jones on the far post. Jones mad no mistake.

The goal that really stopped any doubt in the final outcome was cruel on an otherwise exemplary Luke Rolllins in Wood’s goal. An innocuous high ball to the edge of the box was headed back towards where the keeper was expected to be, only to find that he had advanced to take the ball directly. It missed him out and Adam McMahon saw it safely into the net.