Brantham Badgers were prepared to run at Adhara from the first whistle and looked solid going forward. However, it was FC Adhara who opened the scoring against the run of play. They broke the badgers offside trap and their centre forward ran through to put the ball past the advancing Bowdler in the Badgers goals. Badgers started to settle down and play some good passing football and had a good chance when Gren Ranson was put through but he didn't hit the ball hard enough to worry the Adhara keeper. Badgers started to pass the ball through midfield and inch perfect pass from Ross Cracknell picked out Jamie Carrington whose first time shot was well taken by the Adhara goalkeeper at the second attempt. It seemed as if Badgers had finally got the measure of their opponents with Greg Ranson and Ross Cracknell going close. A good through ball from Ross Cracknell was latched onto by Craig Clarke who made ground and let fly with a fierce shot that that the keeper could only push round for a corner. It seemed only a matter of time before Badgers made one count and it came when a good four man move ended with a great chipped goal from Criag Clarke. It was all Badgers at this stage and a long throw from Lee Clarke was picked up by Jamie Carrington who turned his man and sent in a low,hard shot that the keeper could only turn for a corner. Graham Stiff was having a top class game and he was making telling tackles to deny the Adhara front men chances. Both Justin "V-Man" Vince and Craig Clarke were instrumental in setting up attack after attack for their team mates. Half time- Brantham Badgers 1 FC Adhara 1
The second half saw Badgers dominate the game and they took the lead for the first time when a long throw picked out Greg Ranson who in turn fed the ball through to Ross Cracknell who made no mistake with a good goal at the near post. A quick throw in from Craig Clarke,from a good 30 yards out, saw Jamie Carringto run onto the ball and beat the oncoming Adhara keeper, with the ball going under his body as he went to ground. Jame Carrington was also involved in the Badgers fourth goal when he made all the running and squared the ball for Ross Cracknell to hit home. Guy "Big-show" Clubb came on and got involved up front with the action as a shot from Jamie Carrington hit the post and Guy Clubb running in unmarked just could not make the connection.Guy was involved again when he was knocked over the cricket fencing,making the perfect dive to avoid the stakes ( it must have been good as all the 6 judges gave him the perfect 10 for the dive!), Sean Kearney who had come on down the left flank caused the Adhara defence problems with his running both on and off the ball. There was a round of applause for linesman Paul Hammond who caught the ball while the running the line. Paul looked very smart in his body hugging red garment. Badgers made it a nap hand of goals towards the end when a good three man move ended with Ross Cracknell slotting home for a well deserved hat trick and to give his side an emphatic 5-1 win after a bit slower than usual start. I am sure that Ross Cracknell will know that he could have added to that hat-trick,but this was not going to be that day!
Brantham Badgers Man of the match - Greg Ranson (for all his hard work and effort in midfield)
The Controller
