Roll up, Roll up and welcome to the show that never ends, with fun, fascination and farce as we recant the tales of visiting Impact Squad in action against Bradley Stoke. After the initial 10 minutes, that was dominated by Bradley Stoke, Impact Squad sparked into action with frequent deep penetrating attacks and deadly long throws. About 20 minutes into the game, Impact started the counter of goals ticking.
A through ball to an on running forward left a short range shot to make it 0-1. Following this a spectacular bicycle kick across the goal made it 0-2 from an unchallenged cross. Phil Harwood made some great reactionary saves from close range to keep Stoke in touch with the game. Stoke then started communicating and pressed on Impact Squad. Impact’s fullback then up ended Roger Smith. The following free kick from Andy Gray was a beautiful floating ball deep into the box. As Impact midfielder dropped back to head it away he was tightly pinched by James Palmer and Smith who forced him to head the ball in the wrong direction into his own net, making it 1-2. Some hard tackling from Mark and James Palmer cancelled any further attacks from Impact in the first half.

The second half began under Bradley Stoke’s control. After a spell of good pressure, Stoke had a number of corners.
One of these corners Andy Gray crossed in too low and the ball then returned to him On the following cross the ball came to Smith on the penalty spot. He quickly knocked the ball through to Dave Stephens waiting unmarked in the 6 yard box as he turned and scored 2-2. Minutes later a ball was floated into the path of Ben Osbourne which saw him closing on the box and ready to shoot on the volley from the top of the D. The last ditch efforts of the centre back saw him hitting the ball away at the last second. Unfortunately for Impact, the defender was not able to clear his own crossbar as the ball dropped into the net for a dynamite finish that anyone else would have been proud of, making it 3-2. Following this Impact tightened up at the back and started counter attacking. They won a corner, which was well delivered into the middle of the six yard box. The ball met an Impact forward’s head as it flew into the corner, 3 all. As time was growing slim in the last 5 minutes of the game, Impact Squad’s goalkeeper took a feeble freekick for offside that only ran as far as forward James Palmer. Palmer hit an equally feeble shot back at the keeper, which the keeper totally miss interpreted as the ball rolled past him and bounced along the ground and over the line, 4-3. With 2 minutes left Impact got a long throw right into the 6 yard box again for another header that went in the corner, 4-4.
1 minute to go, substitute Paul Shelley carried the ball to the top of the box where he started shielding the ball and turning away from the opposition. Like bees to honey, all of the Impact players seemed to be drawn to him yet none were really tackling him as they all watched closely for his next move. Paul then struck the ball across the box to a lonely unmarked Stephens who scored from 2 yards out, 5-4 (and out of time!!!). Bradley Stoke did well to win this game with a little help from some friends (Impact).

Match report courtesy of Roger Smith.