CCK went head to head with AFC Stanley for the 2nd week in a row Manager Mike Melvill-Reed was dealt a defending headache with the loss of Mike Spence through injury and Jacob Fortescue on international duty. Ben Tucker was asked to fill the void alongside Gary Walke and Dan Harnden made his first team appearance at left back. The Badgers also welcomed back Tim Rose and Doug Reid. The game started with CCK very much on the back foot, their play lacked fluency and seemed largely affected by the changes at the back AFC Stanley still smarting from last weeks heavy loss seemed determined to win this one and started the better of the two sides, CCK s cause was dealt a furher blow when Centre Half Tucker aggregated his hamstring and limped out of proceedings . Tim Rose was asked to slip into central defence and despite not playing any part in preseason looked composed and comfortable in a largely unfamiliar position against a lively front two. It was against the run of play when CCK took the lead, Josh Rumble Played a ball into Mike Morrison, in a moment of sublime brilliance the midfielder, controlled the pass , flicked up the ball and volleyed it pass the despairing keeper with power, Shots still flashed across the CCK goal and the badgers were grateful for the half time whistle. The second half saw yet another enforced change when striker Nathan Wrigglesworth damaged his wrist and was replaced by Doug Reid, manager Melville-Reed shuffled his team again moving Charlie Jones upfront and Mike Preston onto the right side of midfield Doug Reid moving to left back and Dan Harnden switch to right back. The second half saw a much improved performance by the badgers who suddenly seemed to find an extra gear, Midfielders Mike Morrison , Dave Sewell, Josh Rumble and Mike Preston all posed a threat. With the back four looking composed and keeper muzzall largely untested, however this changed in a hectic ten minutes. Firstly keeper Muzzall tipped a shot over the bar and Stanley missed a couple of headers from set pieces, then came a moment of controversy when the referee Carron-Morran pointed to the spot when defender Reid tangled with an opposition forward, Stanley celebrations soon turned to anger when they noticed the linesmans flag and an offside decision was given, Stanley management team were further angered when Rumble left and re-entered the field of play without the referee noticing. Stanley did however did then equalize with a great finish from the impressive Brett Grainger. Their joy was short lived when Mike Preston showing skill and agility broke into the area beating three defenders before laying the ball off to Morrison who swivelled and blasted the ball home and that proved to be the pivotal moment of the game, Shots from Harnden and Preston flew over the bar but the Badgers finally had control of the game and make it back to back victories.
Manager Mike Melville-Reed said afterwards ”We were fortunate but sometimes you make your own luck-Mike Morrision was undoubtedly the star of the show but the whole team were excellent in the second half”
Captain Dave Sewell added” We stared poor but we always have the belief we can score goals and we grew in confidence as the game went on. We are loving sitting top of the league”
