FLARE LEAGUE - RM4 - SUNDAY APRIL 18th 2010
BRANTHAM BADGERS 3 AFC BERGHOLT 1
Both sides settled down quickly and Bergholt put some early pressure on Badgers to try and take the lead. Badgers defended in depth when needed and started to push Bergholt back. Badgers had an early chance when Badgers broke through and only a brave save by Bergholt keeper James Dale denied the Badgers forward.
Badgers took the lead with a superb goal, and one that would not have looked out of place in the Premiership.
Craig Clarke latched onto the ball a good 30 yards out, looked up and sent in a fierce shot which beat the keeper at his near post. 1-0 ( Cue- cheering, none more so than dad, Alan!!)
Bergholt hit back and could have drawn level when a ball was played across the Badgers area but nobody could get the vital final touch.
Jamie Carrington had another good chance when a inch perfect pass from Craig Clarke picked him out and Jamie's shot looked bound for goal until James Dale managed to pull off a top class save to deny him. Bergholt started to push more men forward and just prior to the break a forward sent in a good shot that was well taken by Jonathan "Safe-hands" Hammond.
Half time - Badgers 1 AFC Bergholt 0
The second half started with AFC Bergholt looking determined to get something out of the game and they did pull a goal back from the penalty spot. Referee Graham Apperley, who had a first class match, spotted an infringement
and straight away pointed to the spot. The Bergholt man hit his shot hard and although Jonathan Hammond got his hand to it he could not stop it going into the net. 1-1.
Badgers upped their game again and hit back with two good goals to take all three points.
A good three man move ended with the ball being played through for Richard Mawdsley, who turned and sent in a hard shot into the to the top corner, leaving the keeper no chance at all.
Badgers made sure of the points with a third goal. The ball was played through the middle and Badgers main=-man , Guy Clubb, chased after it and just on the edge of the area both Guy and the oncoming goalkeeper seemed to get in a tangle. Jamie Carrington, who had followed up then latched onto the loose ball and put it away in style. There were concerns for Guy, as he is only just back frrom a bad leg injury, but "Big-Show" got up and made sure the members of his fan club knew he was alright and carried on with the game. Bergholt had one last run at goal but they could not get pass a hard work and tackling Badgers defence.
Badgers team - Jonathan Hammond, Darrynh Bowdler, Graham Stiff, Ross Cracknell, Lee Clarke, Sean Kearney, Alan Backhouse, Greg Ranson, Craig Clarke, Glen Bones and Jamie Carrington. Subs - Justin Vince and Richard Mawdsley.
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On the Badgers 5-0 win previous to this game I made a mistake in a goal scorer in the report. LEE CLARKE an d not brother Craig Clarke should have been credited with the goal. As Lee said he does not score that many but when he does I got it wrong, so sorry Lee for the mix-up and you have been credited with the goal on the report on the Brantham website. barry felgate
