On a bit of a high following last week’s defeat of one of the top teams, Inter The Bloomfield, and the cup success of the week prior to that, the home side were out on the field warming up before the opposition had even arrived (they were late, we weren’t early!).

Once the game got underway, it was immediately clear that Portville Warriors league position was not a fair representation of their ability as a team to play football. They moved the ball around very well creating good space, and play in a very similar manner to that of Bradley Stoke Town. However, they early clear chances fell to the home side, but were unable to capitalise – Paul Skipp going closest hitting the crossbar having beaten the keeper from the edge of the box. But it was the Warriors who opened the scoring – a free kick was headed up into the air by Potter which the wind took goalwards. It hit the crossbar and Palmer’s outstretched hand at the same time, but three Blue shirts were following up and it was easy to put the rebound away. This was the way the score stayed until halftime, even though Town had more chances to pull level. In fair ness, the away team’s goal keeper had a good first half.

The second half saw much of the same pattern as the first, until Bradley Stoke made some personnel changes. The introduction of Matt Dobbins sparked the team into life and immediately were able to get some luck in front of goal. A long through ball from Potter was intercepted by the head of one of the Portville defenders, but only to wrong foot his own keeper and send the ball into the net. Straight after this, a ball was charged down by Dobbins, which fell wide of the goal for Stephens to finish from a tight angle – making it the last 3games in a row that the striker has scored in (6 goals in 3 games).

The away side then began to push on to regain control of the game. They managed to get back level following a bit of pushing and shoving on the edge of the Town box, a blue shirt managed to find himself with acres of space to pick his spot in the goal.

Another couple of changes by Bradley Stoke to sure things up and get some fresh legs on the pitch…and another goal followed. This time Andy Forshaw chased down a ball that was sent down the left by Dobbins (the away side had stopped for a flag for offside on a player not interfering with play) his quick thinking took him along the by-line and courtesy of a rush of blood from the keeper (throwing himself straight passed the ball and player) – he lashed it home from a yard out.

The home side still more openings and chances to kill the game, but the ball just wouldn’t go in. One incident that forced a corner from a strong challenge ended up injuring Skipp (now playing very creatively up front). He managed to hobble on and last the game, but it turned out he was playing on with a broken foot and will be out for at least until Christmas.

So, could Town hold on to their lead with barely 11 players? – for almost until the 90 minutes were up, the answer was ‘yes’. Portville threw men forward, but a solid defence held firm with some great last ditch defending from Mark Harwood on his way to his first Man-of-the-match for Bradley Stoke. And then, with 12 seconds remaining – a harmless shot from long range took a deflection that slowed it down enough for the fresh legs of a Portville substitute forward to slide in and touch the ball past the onrushing keeper to make it all square.

A bit more effort and better finishing by the home side would have been enough to see the opposition off, but it wasn’t to be as the sides had to share the spoils.

Match report courtesy of James Palmer.