A strong Bradley Stoke side came out confidently to face their first tough challenge of the season in the shape of Shireway Sports.

Early on in the game, Bradley Stoke showed moments of exciting football moving forward, using both wings and getting in behind the defence, but some disappointing finishing kept the game level. Shireway reacted to this early pressure by changing their formation to 3-5-2 and took charge of the game. For the majority of the remainder of the first half they were very much on top and went a goal ahead a little before the end of the first half courtesy of a good move down their right. A low cross was met easily by the Shireway attacker to knock home.

Following some clear directions at half time and the need to start playing football again, Bradley Stoke came out fired up and quickly looked more up for the game. The equaliser came just minutes into the second half from a long throw from Ben Osborne which evaded the entire defence to allow Ashley Lloyd to finish convincingly at the far post. That made it 1-1 and the momentum was now in Town’s favour.

However, Shireway were a well organised and experienced side and fought their way back into the game without too much opposition from Bradley Stoke, who’s movement had stopped and passing was lost. An injury to Centre back Kevin Gray, took him out of the game for a moment and then some theatricals from the Shireway striker under pressure from Craig Potter somehow won the home side a penalty, which was slotted home confidently.

At 2-1 down, Bradley Stoke surely had to fight back, but a third goal for Shireway ended the match as a contest with too much indecision being Bradley Stoke’s downfall. A fourth flattered the home side as Bradley Stoke had to commit extra players forward in order to try to claim something out of the game. The scoreline could also have been a lot worse, were it not for a string of fine saves from Town’s keeper, Palmer as Shireway took apart the 3-5-2 formation that was adopted to try to push for some consolation goals.

A final score of 4-1 was not a fair reflection of the game, but more fight and less panicking as well as some basic errors that need ironing out, is needed to see Bradley Stoke Town competing at the top of this division come the end of the season.

Match report courtesy of James Palmer.