The English weather has returned. Very overcast with drizzle and rain.

An interesting start to the game as Impact began to attack down wings aggressively and didn’t waste any time in pushing all their midfield up the middle in an attempt to get an early goal. However, Bradley Stoke were very calm and patient, communicating very well and defused all the incoming pressure. Then, when Impact’s initial 20mins of energy began to wane, they found their entire midfield was positioned wrong for the growing number of counter attacks that Bradley Stoke was hitting them with. It wasn't long before the first goal came, courtesy of Jerry Harper, as one of these counter attacks saw him smacking a ball home on the volley following good close control on the edge of the box. 5 minutes later Craig Potter broke through the defence and caused so much confusion that his shot, which was heading harmlessly wide, was turned into the Impact goal by their own defender.
This was quickly followed by the first decently delivered corner kick that was headed away, but only as far as Danny who knocked the ball back into the danger area to be met by the head of Craig Potter in the 6 yard box for a close range header. To end the half Jerry floated a long chip over the keeper from about 35 yards out.

Impact Squad spent the half-time break in the changing rooms while Bradley Stoke were left out in the cold rain for a long wait. This tactic worked.  The start of the second half saw a cold, slow and asleep first 15mins for Stoke and Impact had made a substitution, brining on ex-Bolton Wanderers player who started to run the show for them.
Impact were very much back in the game and scored with a fizzing shot through a crowd of many feet within 5 minutes of the restart. Stoke started to warm up again and the Impact pressure was again put to rest for the most part. Later on in the half after each team sharing some unsuccessful attempts, substitute Mustapha Jabang gained possession of the ball in the corner of the box. He hit a very unselfish and intelligent square ball to an unmarked Harper at the far post for an easy knock in and his hat- trick. Not long after that Impact hit back with their final consolation goal via a nicely played through ball from the ex-Bolton player. To conclude Bradley Stoke got one more goal by Mustapha after some collisions on the edge of the box with the ball squirting out in his favour. Mustapha toe pocked the ball through the keepers legs.

3 points, 3 wins in a row and a real test next week verse Longwell Green.

Match report courtesy of Roger Smith.