Michael Creek started in goal for Cardea as they played a 3-5-2 formation for the first time. Tony Harper, Tom Rimes and debutant Stuart Yaxley played as the three centre backs with Kynan Bereznyckyj and Ryan Moore playing as the wing backs.

Shane Cooke, Daryl Patrick and Gavin Earl were in central midfield with Luke Penman and Tom Broughton up front.

Cardea made a strong start and the front two both had chances to score in the opening 15 minutes but found the Brotherhoods keeper in good form.

It was Brotherhoods however who took the lead, against the run of play, on 15 minutes and then doubled their lead thanks to a Daryn Whiteman free header from a corner.

Cardea responded well and pulled a goal back half way through the first period. Penman got in behind the back four and his lob over the keeper was latched onto by Ryan Moore who controlled his finish well, although it did take a deflection on the way in.

Brotherhoods then restored their 2 goal advantage before Cardea scored their second. A ball over the top was touched by Broughton to Penman and he finished low into the net.

Half time arrived and Bereznyckyj and Harper were brought off with Dale Moore and Dan Robinson coming on.

Cardea levelled the scores ten minutes into the half, a superb ball from Cooke was controlled by Broughton to Penman who slotted home for his second of the game.

Brotherhoods retook the lead 15 minutes after half time when the striker lobbed the ball over Creek.

Halfway through the second half and Cardea turned the game on it's head. Cooke and Penman linked up well together and Cooke showed good pace to beat the defenders, take it round the keeper and score from a tight angle to level up at 4-4.

Cardea took the lead 5 minutes later. Patrick started the move with a pass out wide to Penman who cut the ball back into the box to Patrick, the ball was half cleared but Robinson was first to the loose ball and he drilled the ball home.

Between the goals Cardea keeper Creek finally succumbed to injury and was replaced between the sticks by Andrew James.

It was then Brotherhoods turn to score two quick goals and retake the lead at 6-5 with two tap ins.

The scoring wasn't finished there, however, and Robinson scored his second of the game after neatly controlling a Yaxley pass and finishing well into the corner.

The game finished 6-6 and, despite it being pre season, both teams will be pleased not to have lost.

After the game joint manager Craig Robinson said: "I'm very pleased with every player. New formation and not a single player moaned. Started the better team, didn't deserve to go behind but as soon as we got to terms with the new formation our quality started to come through.

"Some very good individual performances again, Yax was solid and fitted in on his debut very well, Penman is a little warrior and isn't afraid to get stuck in and close down, Tom Rimes looked very good in the back 3.

"Couple of sloppy goals conceded and we missed a few good chances, but to come back from 2 down and all dig in as a team was pleasing to see. Good to see once again at half time plenty of encouragement and no bickering! Robbo came on and chipped in with 2 good goals!

"We definitely took a lot more from this game then we did last week! You can all pleased with your performance. The man of the match was between Yax and Cookie, Cookie just pips it! Well done "superstar"! See you all next week."

Kev Webster added: "Today was another big step up for the lads and a brave decision by Robbo to go 3-5-2 which, to my surprise, worked really well and we may have come across the formation to take forward for the new season. We created more chances than in the game against the railway, posed a threat to a team a division above us and imposed more of ourselves on them then maybe we did against West Town the week before.

"For the whole game we played like a team and played the way we did all last season and it was a good way to forget about the West Town game. Robbo deserves a lot of credit today, he got all the tactics and subs spot on, well done mate. Was good to see Stuart Yaxley put on a Cardea shirt and look at home from the off. It was a solid debut from him who in my opinion just lost out on man of the match to cookie who was involved in a lot of the good things we were doing throughout the game.

"Penman and Tommy B looked good up top together which was nice to see. Quote of the day came from cookie 'Yeoman, I don't know how you will get back in this team!'

Well played lads huge credit for bouncing back the way we did and we still have some key players to return for next week so more work for Robbo and myself but a good headache to have. Prem team next week so another massive test."

The next opposition for Cardea will be Baker Perkins as the two square off at Bushfield next Sunday in a midday kick off.