As requested by Hodgey - a match report for the reserves match!

A pretty miserable day met Bradley Stoke Town reserves on their first ever cup match – playing against a completely unknown quantity in the “Bengal Tigers” from the Downs League.

As the players came out of the dressing room, the opposition didn’t look to have a great deal of height, but being a team from the Downs league, it could be expected that they would be physical, skilful and well organised.

The home side cam out with a new formation of 4-5-1, trying to ensure the midfield battle was won and that the play would steam from there. The tactics and formation were to prove too strong for the Tigers as they took an early exit from the GFA cup.

After a shaky first 10 minutes, where Bradley Stoke seemed to struggle to get to grips with the new formation, everything started to click into place. The freedom that was being allowed to the central midfield players ensured that most attacking play was limited to a ball over the top, which never really looked like troubling Town.

One breakaway saw James Palmer (deputising for the reserves in the absence of a couple of midfield players and with the first team not having a fixture) send the ball over the head of the central defender for Eager to chase down, but a post and keeper somehow kept his effort out and the pursuing Hodge only managed to clatter into the post himself.

An early penalty was awarded to the home side following Hodge getting down the left wing and sending a ball into the box that was intercepted by the defending player’s hand. Eager stepped up to the spot, not looking overly confident and hit it straight at the keeper…the rebound was followed up by Brain Stewart, and the less said about his finish, the better – the ball was sent sailing over the bar from about 8 yards out!

The deadlock was finally broken when Hodge was sent clear to clot home the first goal to send the home side in at halftime leading by one goal to nil.

The second half all went Bradley Stoke’s way, with wave after wave of attack pinning the Tigers into their own half. With very deserving goals coming as reward for some strong performances:
Jason Lee had a great game down the right wing and found the net with a curling left foot shot from the edge of the box, round the keeper into the far corner.
Jay Eager battled throughout this game and finally managed to get a chance to slot home the third in a one-on-one situation with the keeper where he slotted home casually.

Unfortunately the game was spoiled when the home side’s clean sheet was taken away when a hopeful ball over the top was chased down by one of the away side’s attackers who was able to round Potter in goal and slot home…But it was no more than a consolation.

Man of the match Joe Williams, who seemed to relish the space being made for him in midfield broke through from midfield, past a couple of defenders and following one blocked shot, didn’t give up, but instead chased down the ball and turned to put it back past the keeper.

Substitute James Bowman was also able to get on the score sheet following a good link up with Eager – a simple one/two sending him through on goal and a little chip over the keeper was all that was needed.

Final score – 5-1. A very comfortable victory, even if the scoreline could have been greater - good performances throughout the team.

Match report courtesy of James Palmer.