With both sides enjoying good 2013/14 seasons the game was always going to be competitive. Baker Perkins will play in the Premier Division next season following promotion while Cardea will play in Division 2, after winning the third division.

Michael Creek started in goal and joint manager Craig Robinson opted to employ the 3-5-2 formation once again, in recognition to his hero and new Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal.

Tony Harper, Michael Williams and Stuart Yaxley started as the three centre backs and Kynan Bereznyckyj and Adam Simons played as wingbacks.

Captain Daryl Patrick, Gav Earl and Shane Cooke operated in midfield with Tom Broughton and Luke Penman starting up front.

Earl started the game as he meant to go on with a booking within three minutes for a lunging challenge on the Perkins midfielder.

Baker Perkins took the lead after ten minutes. A header back to his keeper from Harper was not hard enough and the striker nipped in between Yaxley and Harper and prodded in past Creek.

Baker Perkins had a lot of possession in the first half but Cardea were closing well and almost equalised after twenty minutes as Cooke worked his way into the area but shot over.

Cardea were level 24 minutes in thanks to good work from Broughton and Penman. Penman chested down to Broughton who struck it on the half volley to goal, the keeper parried it and Penman got to the loose ball first to score his 8th goal in 4 games.

Baker Perkins retook the lead in clinical fashion after half an hour and it came from a Cardea set piece. The move broke down and four Perkins players broke up the pitch and it was a well worked move to provide a tap in at the end.

Cardea pegged Baker Perkins back again as half time approached. A fantastic ball over the top by Yaxley was perfect for Cooke and he lobbed over the out coming keeper and tapped the ball in from six yards.

Just after half time referee Paul Osbourne awarded a penalty to Baker Perkins after a foul from Earl. The Perkins player went down the middle but Creek produced a great save with his legs to deny him.

Cardea brought on four subs after an hour with Ryan Moore, Daniel Robinson, Phil Brown and Dale Moore all coming on.

Ryan Moore, playing at left wingback, had a chance to score but his first time effort was turned behind for a corner. However history repeated itself when Baker Perkins took the lead again with another quick counter attack from the Cardea corner.

The lead didn't last long however and it was a special goal that levelled the scores. As the ball was headed out of the Perkins area captain Daryl Patrick ran onto the loose ball and volleyed in a superb goal from the edge of the area.

Moments later and Perkins almost retook the lead. A fast breakaway caught Cardea short at the back and the striker rounded Creek but Harper got back and produced a great block to stop a certain goal.

In the last 10 minutes Cardea dominated and Penman and Patrick both missed guilt edged chances to win the game. Yaxley hit a thunderous shot against the bar and from the rebound Cooke took the ball past four Perkins players and worked himself into a great shooting position but produced a massive air kick and the ball was cleared.

As the thunder, lightening and sideways rain intensified puddles were forming on the pitch and it was a relief to finish the match and it was another impressive performance by Cardea against another higher league opposition.

After the game Craig Robinson said: "Another good display, we were pegged back for a lot of the first half but we hung in there. Second half the shape looked a lot better and we dominated the ball.

"Little disappointed with their goals getting caught on the break too easily. But overall very pleased and the squads looking very good. Split man of the match for me, Yaxley and Daz."

Joint manager Kev Webster added: "Well done today lads. Another draw against a team much higher than we are and again we had chances to win the game. The new formation is still being tested with some mistakes being made but overall this formation allows us to cause the opposition problems. Just need to work on those bits that are not working so well.

"Positives are being displayed after the second game in a new formation. Was good to see a new name on the score sheet for only the second time this pre season and what a ping just a shame he can't score the easy ones, well played Daz. The whole team was faultless today, we got caught a few times on the break but the effort and commitment was there from every player and that's credit to everyone.

"Man of the match for me, I couldn't split it between Daz and yax both having quality games in their area of the pitch and a proper captains display from Daz. It's been a tough pre season in terms of the teams we have faced but we have imposed our game on teams, we have created and scored goals and each team knows they have had a good game. West Town was a wake up call and the way you have responded since that game was pleasing. Well done boys, next week we go again plus team night out on the 29th August."

Cardea face their toughest test of pre season next week when they take on Premier League side Parkway at PSL.