Bronte started this game as if they wanted it over and done with as soon as possible. In truth they could have been and probably should have been 3 or 4 goals up within the first 5 minutes. First a good build-up involving Brown, Fox and Armstrong was finished with a good effort from the latter but it was well saved. From the resulting corner Sollitt headed just wide. Hecky’s keeper was then forced into a poor clearance and Bailey should have made him pay but he lifted his shot over the bar. (L) Blacka seemed to have headed Bronte into the lead from another corner superbly delivered by Bailey but the goal was ruled out for (apparently) a push. Fox had the next chance as it looked as though he might lob the keeper but unfortunately the ball dropped over the cross-bar as well. Pheeeeew! Only five minutes gone-how many were the Wanderers going to notch today?
“A Penalty!” Well certainly those on the Bronte sideline thought so as a throw-in bounced in the box and made contact with a defender’s arm-unfortunately on the ref’s blind-side (some might cruelly say he was blind on both sides). Still no joy. Fox then slotted a great through-ball for Conway who looked as though he had got around the keeper but the latter dived and smothered the ball before he could finish. A break buy Heckmondwyke results in a corner but this is punched clear by Bainbridge. (I) Maude switches play and finds (M) Maude who makes a great run down the centre but once again drags his shot wide. Still less than 20 minutes gone. Bainbridge takes a free-kick and finds (M) Maude on the edge of the opponents’ box. He brings the ball down superbly but in comes the defender with an excellent tackle and clears the danger. Some rare pressure from Hecky and a clearance is intercepted the ball is crossed and the visitors No 9 must score! But he doesn’t, he fails to make contact with the ball and a chance to take the lead against the run of play goes begging. Armstrong features again but once more his shot is blocked. A goal-kick is headed on by Brown to Fox whose long range effort clears the keeper and once more the cross-bar. Will they ever score? Well actually yes! And I guess you could say it was worth waiting fore. Right on the stroke of half-time a defensive clearance by Bronte finds Armstrong whose deft reverse-flick glides through to Greenaway (on for the injured Fox). His low drive is well saved by the keeper but whose there to pounce on the re-bound? Predator-extraordinaire Dave Armstrong volleys the ball into the net to finally give the Wanderers a well deserved lead. Half-time.
The first 20 minutes of the second-half is pretty uneventful but then Bronte find their rhythm. Pressure by Armstrong forces another poor clearance from the keeper and Greenaway gets another chance but he too drags his shot wide. Armstrong crosses but this cleared only as far as Blacka. It’s a good drive but once more wide. A flick on by Greenaway finds Conway who makes a jinking run to the by-line, pulls the ball back for Armstrong only to blast an excellent chance over. A minute later Greenaway drives one against the cross-bar. Are we going to have to wait ‘till the 90th minute for another goal? Actually no! Armstrong beats the off-side trap (much to the chagrin of Hecky’s manager), rounds the keeper and with the visitor’s defenders hounding his heels smashes the ball into the net from close range (adding to their manager’s chagrin). Not too long after this Greenaway makes amends as he side-foots calmly past the keeper to make 3 – 0. Bronte are now in the comfort zone-or is it the go to sleep zone? Certainly they switched off as a free kick to Heckmondwyke is spread wide then crossed to be headed past a stranded Bainbridge to make it 3 – 1 with 10 minutes left to play.
Taylor, Brown and (I) Maude combine but the keeper comfortably saves the chipped attempt. As the last few seconds run down Ritson makes an excellent run and cross but this somehow eludes the home strikers and is cleared. Final whistle.