The Bulls Head Marchington through to the Semi Final after defeating Abbots Bromley

Marchington travelled to local rivals Abbotts

Bromley for a Quarter Final on the back of a crushing 6-1 victory the previous

week. The away side were however without Isted and Rhead who had been so

influential the week before. On the plus side Kiddle had Rory Maxwell and Wayne

Salmon returning to an otherwise unchanged side.

The weather and pitch were not conducive to good

football but what followed was a testimony to both sides' levels of commitment

and energy. Bromley started the better of the two sides and had two really good

chances both falling to the feet of former Marchington man David Neves who was

denied by Johnson. The next chance also fell to the home side and was the

result of a free kick 35 yards out and a poor clearance saw John Garlick thunder

a shot against the bar. 

The Bulls head started to settle and Maxwell was

starting to see more of the ball and his link up play with Richards was

starting to make a difference. Maxwell soon managed to wriggle free of the

defence and rounded the keeper, squaring the ball back to Severa who saw his

shot go agonisingly over the bar. It was at the other end that the deadlock was

breached, when Whilbley played a slide rule ball through on the half hour for

Crooks, who coolly slotted past the advancing keeper. Crooks a menace

throughout the first half seeing a lot of the ball, although Skelham was

marshalling the defence superbly with the returning salmon. Half time arrived

with the score line at 1-0 and Bromley would feel the margin could and should

have been greater.

The Bulls head came out for the second half with

a far more positive intention with Max Kiddle and Petr Severa starting to cause

more trouble out wide. The latter had claims for a penalty after a rash

challenge in the area went unpunished much to the annoyance of the travelling

fans. Richards and Wray were starting to take the game to the home side in

midfield, which left the Bulls head susceptible to the break. This proved to be

the case as Crooks picked the ball up in the inside right channel beating both

Mellor and Salmon before bending a curling shot across goal which was superbly

saved by Johnson. The Bulls head took heed of this warning and were soon back

on level terms. Ashley Young was having a marvellous game and his interception

played into the feet of Richards drew an unnecessary challenge. Richards then

hit a very dangerous curling free kick which took a deflection of the ill-fated

Dan Garlick into the bottom corner past the desperate dive of Sweeting to

restore parity. 

The game looked like it was going to head for a

draw as both sides failed to take their chances but it was a corner won by the

hard working Langridge that saw the Bulls head take the lead. Langridge then

swung in a vicious corner, which was met by Skelham and Kiddle who then bundled

the ball over the line in controversial circumstances. The home side clearly

believed it to be a foul on Sweeting, but after being denied a penalty the

visitors were not complaining. 

After taking the lead it was important the trio

of Maxwell, Richards and Wray continued to work hard and hope the impressive

back four managed to keep the ever increasing Bromley pressure at bay. The

defence put their bodies on the line with Mellor as ferocious as ever in the

tackle and Salmon throwing himself in front of every shot. This combined with

the calming influence of Skelham and the conscientious Young who never put a

foot wrong all game made the visitors hard to break down. This hard work meant

Bromley had to try and play a more direct brand of football and were reduced to

shots from distance which rarely troubled Johnson. The home side rallied on by

tremendous support in the circumstances were not going to give up and looked

very dangerous from a number of free kicks and corners but the Bulls head stood

strong and were able to hang on for a memorable victory.  The game could

easily have gone either way and Bromley were left rueing missed chances.

After the game the Bulls head Manager Rik Kiddle

was delighted with the win and the efforts of his players. He said "the lads

had the hearts set on a cup run this year and we knew Bromley would be a stern

test today, and they really were", "we are now looking forward to playing them

again in the league next week and our semi final".  The Wilkins & Thompson

Solicitors man of the match went to the Bulls Head captain Adam Johnson. 

Pictures by Dave Richards.