Bretforton A 1, Stourport A 1

BRETFORTON'S opening friendly of the season took place on Astroturf surface at Evesham High School.

The hosts were well organised and controlled the game in the first half when good work from midfielders Sophie Corbett, Lisa Workman, Blanche Surman and Julie Hall helped put consistent pressure on the Stourport defence.

The best chance of the half came when Corbett struck a shot from the edge of the D forcing the goalkeeper into a diving one-handed save.

However, it was visitors who broke the deadlock in the final minute of first half when a close-range strike gave Sophie Green little chance in goal.

The second half saw a more open game as Bretforton relaxed their grip slightly and enabled their opponents to get back into the game. However, defenders Jane Wheeler, Bobbie Handley, Sarah Cooke and Liz Murray-White all played well to keep the attackers at bay.

A good break from midfield starting with a pass by Andrea Cole to Deb Slatter saw Cole, in the D, hit the return pass narrowly wide.

Following good work around the D it was Slatter this time who saw her shot roll agonisingly the wrong side of the frame of the goal.

It took Bretforton until the final ten minutes to earn reward when a god run down the right saw Slatter cross the ball for Sarah Hall make no mistake and earn her side a deserved draw.

The club's annual tournament took place at Station Road where several local teams took to the field.

The host club's A team were knocked out after the first round of matches, but the B team finished runners-up in their group.

Their reward was a semi-final clash with Chipping Campden and the tie was goalless at the final whistle but it was Bret who went through by virtue of having gained most short corners.

Old adversaries Shipston were their final opponents and they managed to find the net following a short corner - a goal that proved the decider in another close-fought contest.