As usual Bronte were a little slow starting and the home side quickly showed they weren’t going to be a pushover. Bronte had the first real chance though when Gareth Ritson made one of his blistering runs to open up ‘Towns defence and cut the ball back in the penalty area. Dave Alderson with a clear sight on goal drove a fierce shot but there were groans all around as the ball cannoned off the crossbar.
Littletown continued to press and in doing so forced Bronte’s midfield into a major error. A poorly targeted pass was intercepted leaving the defender stranded and as the striker raced towards goal Dave Nelson made a last ditch tackle that the ref adjudged a foul and awarded a penalty. Dave Bainbridge went the right way but had no chance with the well stuck spot kick.
Bronte certainly had their share of possession but the final delivery to Dave Armstrong and Joe Blacka simply wasn’t good enough to enable them to carve out any clear chances. As the home side made better use of their possession another corner was forced. The initial cross was cleared but fell to a ’Town mid-fielder who smashed in a low drive into the corner of the net from 25yds. 2-0 as half time approached.
Littletown almost increased their lead in the second minute of the second half when a long free kick cleared the Bronte defence with a home striker re-acting the quickest. Only a fine save from Bainbridge denied them a third goal. With 7 mins gone (J) Blacka had his first (and probably his only) chance of the game but his effort was just held by the keeper. At the other end only Bainbridge’s presence prevented another Littletown chance ending up in the net as closing him down quickly forced the striker to put his shot wide.
The Wanderers broke away and forced a corner. Liam King’s cross found Ritson at the far post and his low drive across the box somehow eluded everyone. There then followed a period when both sides pressed their attacks but to little avail. Simian Brown was solid in his defensive mid-field role and Liam Blacka continued to threaten to open up Littletown’s defence with some of his passes. Martin Maude made one of his strong runs down the left and crossed a dangerous ball into the box. Armstrong pounced on it and fired in a shot from 12yds but the groan of the first half were echoed as this time the ball came back off the post and was cleared.
Bronte’s woes continued as Dave Nelson, who up to this point had had a sound game at the heart of the Wanderer’s defence, continued his argument with the ref and got himself sent off. This allowed Littletown to pile on the pressure. Almost immediately a long range effort threatened the Bronte goal but just dipped over the crossbar. Then a free-kick well delivered was chested down and volleyed but again Bainbridge did just enough to prevent the striker from getting his shot on target. Making the extra man count another chance fell to a ‘Town striker on the edge of the box but he drove his shot wide. Bronte once again broke out and a good cross in from the right resulted in a “pin-ball” around the six yard box as first Armstrong and Ross Greenaway saw their efforts cleared of the line. Not yet down and out Bronte forced another corner and Kings cross found Jamie Rowell’s head but this too went wide of the mark. Littletown almost had the last word in injury time as a free kick found its target but the header was high and wide.
R.M.P. Liam Blacka M.O.T.M. Simmy Brown