Bronte Wanderers (3) V Tyersal Res (1)
After three weeks of very mixed performances from most of the Bronte players it wasn’t surprising that the manager decided to ring the changes, particularly after the previous week’s heavy defeat by local rivals Steeton. Changing to a 4-4-2 system Braz shuffled a number of players around searching for a better balance. Alderson was moved from his sweeper’s role into central mid-field to improve the distribution from that area. Maude was given the left-backs job and Simmy Brown was drafted into centre-back to give a little more pace and height to the back four alongside Nelson. King became right back giving the team good balance and distribution down both flanks. With Alderson now joining LB in the centre this allowed Fox and Ritson to play more as wide midfielders. Armstrong maintained his usual marauding roll with JB sitting a little deeper. Allowing for a little time for the new formation to settle this certainly looked a better option with the present personnel and providing the finishing can be improved I’m sure it will keep the Wanderers in there with a great chance in all competitions.
A strong start from Bronte but it was Tyersal that have the first real chance. A cross from the left flank is met by the striker whose weak header is easily gathered by Bainbridge. Ritson has Bronte’s first chance when Armstrong’s run to the by-line is followed by him cutting the ball across the area towards Ritson but he fails to make a solid contact with the strong cross. Armstrong again becomes provider when another cross finds Fox at the far post but the header goes comfortably wide. A goal keeping error next presents Armstrong with a chance but the keeper atones for his error blocking Bronte’s top scorer at the expense of a corner. A free-kick to Tyersal creates a great opportunity for them to take the lead but the striker’s header goes back across the box and wide of the post. Bainbridge manages to smother the ball at the second attempt following a quick break by the visitors. Yet another free-kick just outside Bronte’s box forces Nelson to head the ball over his own crossbar. Simmy clears the corner and Armstrong breaks but once more Tyersal’s defence stands firm. Both sides were breaking quickly and Ritson beats the offside trap only for the keeper to win the one-on-one once more. Alderson is next to test the Tyersal’s defence, but with perhaps too much time to think, hesitates to shoot and instead delivers a poor pass to Fox and the chance slips away. A long clearance finds a Tyersal striker whose effort beats Bainbridge but also drifts wide of the post. Armstrong once more shows tenacity as he wins and keeps the ball before stroking it through to Joe Blacka but his shot is well saved. Fox gets another chance to open the scoring when Martin Maude’s cross finds him at the far post but he dallies too long and the defence clears the danger. Liam Blacka drives positively but sees his effort clear the bar. Joe Blacka and king combine well For King to drive a fierce shot towards goal but once more the keeper pulls off a good save. Another pin point cross from Maude creates the final chance of this half but JB’s header doesn’t trouble the keeper. Definitely a half of “Buts” and it was incredible that the score-line remained 0-0
The second half continued in the same vain, both sides dangerous on the break. King lifts a shot just over the bar and Ritson forces another save from the keeper as Butcher (on for Fox) crosses. Tyersal’s off-side trap frustrates Bronte who continue to concede free-kicks but Tyersal waste too many. As often happens when one side is dominating but not finding the net Bronte go a goal down when a corner is unchallenged at the far post and is headed in. Bronte responded with a chance for Armstrong who beats the off-side trap but the keeper wins this one-on-one as well. The ball wasn’t fully cleared though and a low cross across the box is followed in by Armstrong who makes no mistake this time to level the score. Bronte clear yet another poor free-kick and J-B feeds Ritson whose blistering run is finished with a thunderous strike into the top corner providing without doubt the highlight of the game. Tyersal had one final chance to get something from the game but the header from another free-kick failed to test Bainbridge. The game was settled when king passed neatly to Maude who chipped to Armstrong who drove his shot under the keeper. Not yet down and out Tyersal strike quickly and catch Bronte’s defence napping for once but the striker puts his effort wide. For a short while Tyersal manage to exert some pressure and another free kick should have got them level but the header once more fails to trouble Bainbridge. Bronte break-out as the two full backs King and Maude combine with Maude’s chipped cross from the edge of Tyersal’s box finding Armstrong. Once more he finishes with aplomb sliding the ball under the advancing keeper for 3-1.
Not quite so many “Buts” in this half but (hee hee) Bronte need to address the free-kick situation as it will cost them points sooner or later. Overall this was an excellent game from Bronte who needed only to improve their finishing to have had a very comfortable win.
M.O.T.M. Simeon Brown R.M.P. Liam Blacka