A very strong start by Salts saw the new look, young, Bronte side penned in their own half. As the home side comfortably won the aerial battle and closed down far quicker they were able to put their visitors defence under pressure. So it wasn’t surprising when they made an early score when a cross from the right wing was bundled in at the near post. However this did wake up Bronte who began at last to push forwards into Salts territory. They were rewarded when Liam King’s free kick following a foul on John Smith, making his debut start with the first team, was met in the penalty box by Ross Chapman. His looping header sailed over the keeper and dropped into the net to make it 1-1 with only 10 minutes gone. The game then switched from end to end but it was a further 20 minutes before the next real scoring chance came. Salts left winger, who had been tormenting the Bronte defenders, once again broke through and his cross was met with a thunderous strike producing a brilliant re-action save from Dave Bainbridge. Bronte had been growing stronger as the half progressed and Salts were clearly looking the worse for the long lay-of when Bronte were hit with one of those game changing events. Right on half-time Dave Alderson’s attempted header back to his keeper fell nicely for a Salt’s striker. Just as he prepared to shoot a super tackle by another debutant Richard McCulloch ( sorry Rick I’m almost certain I’ve spelt that wrong) looked to have cleared the danger but the ball was collected on the right wing by another Salts player who drove in a strong shot to the near post. Bainbridge, expecting a cross, was caught wrong footed and failed to beat the ball to safety. 2-1 to Salts
The late goal, against the run of play, in the first half clearly boosted the flagging home side and they again started the second half strongly. Once again within five minutes they increased their lead. A free-kick, from almost the same spot where Bronte’s goal had come from, was played to the edge of the box. A great turn and strike left Bainbridge with no chance. Just as in the first half this early strike re-ignited the Bronte players. James Bailey beat the off-side trap but was brilliantly tackled before he could get his shot away. The resulting corner was (apparently) headed into his own net by a salts defender, although Danny Makinson was trying to make some claim to it post match. Bronte stuck again within minutes when a long ball found Dave Armstrong. A typical battling run saw him break through and roll it past the keeper to level the scores. Just as it looked as though Bronte would again take control of the game they were hit again. Within a minute of equalising they were once again behind. A neat pass threaded through their defence was flicked deftly into the net at the near post. You could almost see the fight go out of the Bronte side at this point and Salts began to raise their game accordingly. Chance after chance fell to the home side with only poor finishing spoiling some excellent moves. Inevitably though they must score. A break and cross was poorly defended and headed in to make it 5-3. Piling on the agony more pressure from Salts led to a corner which was finished with a simple tap-in. Bronte almost had the last word when in the final minute Bailey’s pin-point cross found Gaz Ritson on the far post. He should have scored but only succeeded in heading straight at the keeper.
M.O.T.M. Dayne/Ross R.M.P. Alders