Hindringham Reserves 2, Bradenham Wanderers 2THE Bulldogs travelled to Hindringham for a back-to-back Dolphin Auto's Anglian Combination Division Four game confident after a 3-0 home win the previous week.

Hindringham Reserves 2, Bradenham Wanderers 2

THE Bulldogs travelled to Hindringham for a back-to-back Dolphin Auto's Anglian Combination Division Four game confident after a 3-0 home win the previous week.

They knew Hindringham would be up for this game especially with the threat of veteran Tim Walpole in their side.

Bradenham were forced into changes with top scorer Rick Forder and John Allison not available They brought in Tom Smart to partner Steve Cox up front and Barry Taafe into midfield replacing the un-well Kyle Goodge, who went on the bench.

A strong wind down and across the pitch gave no real advantage to either side. Bradenham kicked off down the slope and should have taken an early lead. Marc Galer found time and space in the box but put his shot wide.

The game was dominated by defences and turned into a midfield battle. Wanderers started to get on top and create chances.

A top-drawer save thwarted Boyce's goal-bound header from a corner. Cox found space at the far post but could not connect properly and the chance went begging. Tuft's looping shot from outside the box was dealt with by the young keeper.

The deadlock was finally broken just after the half-hour mark with Steve Cox finishing off a good move by lifting the ball over the advancing keeper and into an empty net.

Bradenham went into half-time relatively happy with a 1-0 lead but knew it should have been more.

The second half started with Hindringham throwing more men forward but they couldn't find a way through a resolute Bradenham defence.

The game was starting to open up as the wind started to ease.

With just over an hour gone Walpole received the ball into his feet in the box, turned to his left and shot. Findlay got down to parry but the ball found the net for the equaliser. It was a bitter pill for the visitors to swallow as it was the home side's first real chance on goal.

Within six minutes the Bulldogs had regained the lead, Taafe heading home from Jamie Craig's far-post header.

Hindringham were never going to give up without a fight and were rewarded in the dying minutes when Asa Saunders rose at the front post to head home a superb near-post corner.

Bradenham were disappointed at dropping two vital points in their promotion push, but congratulated Hindringham on their performance and attitude.

With two games played in close proximity, sometimes things can boil over from one game to the next, but both games were played in the right spirit and refereed well by Mr Pegg.

This week Bradenham are at home to Wymondham Reserves ko 2.30pm. meet at 1.30.