The home side got off to a good start and within the first few minutes almost opened up Bronte’s defence with an excellent through-ball that Martin Maude had to clear swiftly for a corner. This was also cleared for another corner before Bronte finally got to grips and launched their first meaning-full attack. Martin Maude led a break down the left flank before his long throw caused panic in Dudley’s box but the resulting corner was comfortably collected by the keeper.
Dudley Hill looked dangerous every time they pressed forward whilst Bronte relied on throw-ins from Maude and free-kicks from Dave Bainbridge and Liam King to get the ball into the opposition’s penalty box. The best of these, a free-kick from Liam King, produced a corner. James Bailey’s delivery was as accurate as ever and Joe Blacka’s header looked goal bound before the keeper gathered it before it could find the top corner. Dudley broke away and a cross from the right flank forced Dayne Ward to make an interception. Unfortunately he only succeeded in deflecting the ball past his own keeper to give Dudley the lead. Although there was an element of good-fortune about the goal it was followed by a good passage of play by Dudley who probably should have increased their lead. They seemed to be able to by-pass Bronte’s mid-field and open up their defence with ease. Their best opportunities resulted in a shot blocked on the line and cleared by Maude and what seemed like an open goal missed when the striker completely fluffed his shot.
Bronte did finally get their game going and once again King and Blacka linked-up well. This time Blacka turned and slipped past his marker before driving a left foot strike into the bottom corner of the net. Only minutes later Simmy Brown played the ball in to Blacka who laid it back to King. Unfortunately his shot cleared the cross-bar. Blacka and Brown almost produced a second from James Bailey’s corner but Brown’s overhead-kick lacked power and was easily caught by the keeper. Another long throw From Maude was flicked on by Armstrong to Bailey at the far post. It looked a simple “nod-in” but somehow he got too much on it and lifted it over the bar. A rare, at this stage of the game, break by Dudley once more found its way far too easily past too many Bronte players but the striker drove his shot straight into the mid-riff and safe hands of Bainbridge. Danny Makinson produced a great cross but there wasn’t a Bronte striker close enough to make it count. The final chance of the half fell to Bailey. Armstrong launched a strong counter-attack before slipping the ball through to Bailey. It looked as though he might go around the keeper but the latter did just enough to prevent this and the danger was cleared. Which side was going to regret their missed chances of this half by the end of the game may have been the question on both managers’ minds at half-time.
Both sides started the second half briskly. First a good cross from Dudley forced Jamie Rowell to head out for a corner which was subsequently cleared. Bronte launched their attack and a terrific pass from Armstrong found Bailey in an excellent position. Caught in two minds as to chip or go round the keeper his eventual chip cleared the cross-bar as well. Armstrong next produced some superb wing-play going past two Dudley players almost on the touch-line before sliding in a pass to Gaz Ritson. His somewhat tame shot although it beat the keeper was easily blocked on the line and cleared. King, having without doubt his best game for Bronte, slipped a through-ball to Armstrong who might have increased Bronte’s lead but for a great tackle from the defender. This was probably the turning point in the game. Bronte had dominated the last 20mins of the first half and the first 20mins or so of the second half but it was their missed chances that came back to haunt them. A break from Dudley once more caught Bronte’s off-side trap wanting as their striker had oceans of space and time to go round Bainbridge and tap into the net. Another failed off-side appeal leaves Bainbridge having to make another excellent save. Bronte strived to get back into the match and a good cross from King was headed back by Blacka to Armstrong but his shot sailed over.
Shortly after this Bronte were caught 2-on-2 at the back and probably would have conceded a second if Ward hadn’t got back to make a timely tackle. Then a great strike from Dudley forced Bainbridge to push over and next he manages to force a striker wide and drive his shot the wrong side of the post as the pressure from the home team mounted. Another opportunity is wasted as Hill’s striker blasts over when clean through. Bronte had a final chance to get something out of the game as full time approached. Another decent corner by Bailey didn’t get the effort it deserved from the Bronte attack and was easily cleared. From the break Dudley had the final word as they comfortably broke through and this time made no mistake to wrap the game up 3-1.
RMP Liam King - CMP Liam King