Bradley Stoke travel away to Keynsham to play their rematch against Little Thatch.
Stoke won at home with an outstanding second half performance before Christmas, how would they do this afternoon in the heavy rain. The pitch was unpredictable with a hard surface that may see the ball bounce, skid or splat in the mud and some nasty swirling winds over head.

Straight from the kick off Bradley Stoke looked very interested in dominating this fixture. All the players were communicating, making runs off the ball and getting stuck in. Very early on, Little Thatch were pinned into their half, but as the wind carried the ball out of play much of the time it was difficult to get a steady rhythm going. Paul Shelley and James were the starting points of most of the attacks against Thatch as they controlled the midfield and distributed fine passes.

The first goal, a short while in the waiting, came from Jerry Harper as he buried a cross in the corner. Shortly following the opener came a beautiful linking play from all. Roger Smith slipped a through ball into the box for Dave Stephen, who crossed it to the far post to Harper, Harper gently rolled the ball back to the top of the box to James, who carefully placed the ball into the top right corner of the net. Minutes later Stephens headed a cross back to Smith. Smith’s diving header was set to go in the bottom corner until a fullback's hand stopped the ball. A penalty was given. Harper stepped up, but the club's top goal scorer's shot sailed over the bar and headed down the road. Just before the end of the half Tom Hutchings played a long ball out from defence that was well brought down by Harper. A simple pass into Stephens on the edge of the box allowed him to strike a right foot volley into the roof of the net.

The second half saw Bradley Stoke now playing into the wind & up the slope, but this saw little change in the possession as Stoke still kept the pressure on. Good control around the middle, and the defenders being on their toes, kept Little Thatch's opportunities to a minimum. Paul Shelley, Tom Hutching and James Palmer kept excellent communication anchoring and cementing authority over the game. Up front a few Bradley Stoke chances fell and missed the target before, Kevin Gray got a breakaway. The keeper charged him too early leaving an easy chip over his head for a cheeky goal. A little later Gray again found himself in front of an open goal as he got round the fullback and nutmegged the keeper. With all the hard work done he hesitated and was caught by a Little Thatch defender who cleared the ball into touch.
After that there was the odd break away and shot to no avail, but Bradley Stoke did not take their foot of the pedal and stayed firmly in control. More team performances like that would be a pleasure to watch!

Match report courtesy of Roger Smith.