BEES UP AND BUZZING FOLLOWING LATE DRAMA

Football is finally back at Bronte, and the Bees left it late to claim all three points on their return to action.

Having had the upper hand in the opening exchanges, the bees made it count in the 6th minute with a flowing move down the left. Robertson and Ali combining to send Crowe away down the flank, and a perfect cross found Parker who tucked home the opening goal.

The bees could have had a handful of goals in similar fashion during the following 10 minutes, with Crowe running in behind and firing crosses into the middle, but 1-0 it remained and the bees might have been left rueing what could have been.

The flow of the game was steadily stemed by the visitors and they started to find their bearings. Salts gained the upper hand with 15 minutes of the first half remaining and Bees were under the cosh. Booth, Hardman and O'Gara were all made to work hard through the middle of the field and Richardson was tested from distance on his return between the posts.

Salts levelled the game up in the 27th minute, following a spell of intense pressure. The ball fell nicely at the attackers feet on the edge of the bees box, and a scuffed shot rolled steadily towards the bottom corner of the bees goal. Richardson could only watch as the ball rolled over the line to give Salts some reward for their efforts.

Just 3 minutes later, and Salts were to strike again. A good strike from distance produced a good stop from a flying Richardson, but his parry would only find a white shirt and a simple tap in gave the visitors the lead. With half time approaching, a sigh of relief could be heard when the whistle sounded, with the visitors having the bulk of possession and the bees resulting to a long ball in a n effort to clear their lines.

A half time substitution saw goal scorer Parker being replaced by McKenzie up top.

It seemed to be more of the same after the break, with Salts once again starting out on top. But, great work at the back by Sykes, O'Gara and Robertson, kept the opportunies to a minimum.

Sykes and Booth's half time team talk finally started to come to fruition on 45 minutes, with the home side starting to get a foothold in the game. Kerr and Slater combined down the right before the latter's cross was narrowly missed in the middle by Crowe.

Just moments later, Booth's fantastic strike from 25yards out looked to be destined for the top corner. But the Salts keeper had other ideas and flung himself at full stretch to his right hand side, clawing the ball around the post for a bees corner.

On his return to the side, Ali was replaced by Parker on 50 minutes and a quick shuffle of the pack by Sykes and Booth, in order to throw men forward in chase of an equaliser.

With an almost instant impact, it was Parker who nudged home his second on 60 minutes. A bees corner turned into pinball in the box, and when Parker beat the defender to the ball, he guided it goalwards under the diving goalkeeper, drawing the bees level. 2-2 with 10 minutes to go.

The now midfield five of Kerr, Slater, Booth, Hardman and Robertson continued to drive the bees forward, playing the ball in behind the high defensive line for forwards Crowe, McKenzie and Parker to chase. And it was Crowe who finally latched onto one in the 66th minute.

Faced with just the goalkeeper to beat, the ball was initially saved, before falling awkwardly back to Crowe's feet. An attempted back heel failed from 6 yards out, but Crowe persisted. Eventually Crowe stabbed the ball goalwards despite 2 defenders in close attendance. A diving goalkeeper grasped at the ball through the crowd of players, but it was too late as the ball was deemed to have crossed the line by the linesman on the far side. Crowe celebrated as a distraught goalkeeper and defender were left to argue with the referee. The goal stood. Bees in front with 4 minutes left to play.

It was backs to the walls in the final 4 minutes for the bees, Crowe now positioned deep in his own half as an extra body in the midfield.
And as the ball went out for a throw on the near side, the final whistle sounded.

A delighted set of home supporters cheered as the game finished with a final score of Bees 3 - 2 Salts.

3 points on the board for the Bees, and plenty to talk about on Thursday at training, both for the players and the supporters!

UP THE BEES!