Bees set the record straight, as Weston Lane visit Bronte playing fields on remembrance Sunday.

The match started with both sides impeccably observing the 1 minute’s silence, to honour all those who have given their lives in combat. The Bees, wearing their familiar home strip of black and yellow stripes, black shorts and black with yellow socks, were proudly sporting black armbands with poppies printed on in a fitting tribute to the date.

The game started brightly, with both sides enjoying possession. The Bees took a while to settle, having made several alterations to the team for this friendly, with Ali having the only opportunity in the opening exchanges, a shot from distance that found its way into the goalkeeper’s arms.

As the game settled into a rhythm, it was the Bees who drew first blood. Hoyle, in at right back, combined with Bance, playing on the right wing, to force a throw-in deep inside the Weston Lane half of the field. Taken short, the ball found its way to Wilkinson, who sent a delightful chip over the goalkeeper and into the net from almost 20yards out. 1-0 Bees on 18 minutes.

The Bees went close again just two minutes later when Booth, playing in the defensive midfield roll, won the ball back and fed Barnes on the left wing. Barnes did well to beat his defender and feed Ali whose shot was pushed onto the outside of the post before rolling out for a corner, which came to nothing.

The Bees had their tails up at this point and were pushing for a second, with Bance having an effort saved and Ali’s wild swing at the ball inside the Weston Lane penalty area being the highlights of the remainder of the half.

In the second half, coaches Sykes and Booth shuffled the pack and rung the changes with Crowe on for Ali and McKenzie on for Bance, as the Bees pushed for a second goal.

Crowe’s fresh legs gave the Bees some impotence down the right and he started to create opportunities from the kick off. A lovely ball in behind from Wilkinson, sent Crowe down the wing, only for the winger to misjudge his cross cum shot as it went out of play for a goal kick. Just 2 minutes later and Crowe was in again, and this time he produced a lovely cross that rolled right across the six-yard box, begging to be touched home, but no-one was there to apply the final touch and the ball rolled out again for another goal kick.

The Bees were beginning to play and on 41 minutes, got their just rewards. Wilkinson fed Crowe in behind the defensive line, and Crowe drove to the corner of the box. A low, hard, shot down into the far corner of the goal, beating the goalkeeper. 2-0 Bees.
But Weston Lane were not to be counted out. A warning sign from the kick off, a long ball over the top not dealt with and the strikers shot going just wide of Richardson’s left-hand post.
On 43 minutes, Weston Lane were piling forward again, this time down the Bees left. In space, the winger was able to cross the ball in behind the defensive line of Hoyle, Hardman & Booth. The latter, sticking out a right boot, inadvertently putting the ball past Richardson, who had come to claim the cross without shouting, into his own net. As the inquest started on the pitch, Weston Lane celebrated. 2-1 Bees.

The game was beginning to become stretched, with both sides enjoying time and space with the ball, but it was the Bees who had the best of the opportunities. Crowe spurned a couple of clear-cut chances, with Robertson also missing the target as the Bees started the take the upper hand, and in the 48th minute, the pressure they’d built finally paid dividends. Crowe was sent clean through on goal, with only the keeper to beat. From the edge of the penalty area, a low shot towards goal and the goalkeeper couldn’t sort his feet in time, as the ball passed through his legs for Crowe’s second and the Bees’ third. 3-1 Bees with two minutes to go.

Almost straight from the kick off, the Bees were on the attack again. This time, down the left side, the ball fell to Robertson who drove towards the left-hand corner of the penalty area. After cutting back and beating his man on his favoured left side, he sent a thunderous effort into the top left-hand corner of the goal to put the game beyond Weston Lane with just a minute left on the clock.

But Weston Lane weren’t done, and fighting until the end they were rewarded for their efforts by Richardson in the Bees goal. A break down the left side, and a high looping cross into the centre wasn’t caught by the Bees goalkeeper, instead palming the ball into his own net. 4-2 Bees, right on the full-time whistle.

The Bees go again next weekend, again at Bronte, against fellow promotion winners Thackley Lightening.