Saturday December 28th
Midland Football League Premier Division
Brocton 1 Atherstone Town 2
Brocton went into the final game of 2024 having to make changes from their win at Uttoxeter Town on Boxing Day. Charlie King (suspended) and Christian Blanchette (unavailable) were replaced by Josh Simcox and Cam Osborne. The bench had a youthful look with five teenagers eager to join the fray. Atherstone had their thirteen game unbeaten run ended by leaders Lichfield City on Saturday and were determined to bounce back at Silkmore Lane. They were missing joint leading scorer Lewis Collins.
On a cold, murky day it was the visitors that had most of the early play. In the seventh minute, a fierce shot from Mitch Woakes, hit a Brocton defender and went out for a corner. Atherstone were using the long throw from Jacob Shilton to put pressure on the Brocton defence. In the 16th minute, a god cross from Lewis Noon was well defended by Connor Haddaway. Brocton’s first attacking move of note saw a low cross from Reg Smith gathered at full stretch by Finn Osborn. Two minutes later, Atherstone had the ball in the Brocton net, but it was ruled out for a foul on Tony Allsopp. Against the run of play, Brocton took the lead in the 20th minute. A mistake at the back by Niall Rowe allowed Will Whieldon to run away with the ball. As Osborn came out to close the angle, Whieldon put the ball inside his near post. The goal did not impact Atherstone, and they kept up the pressure. A long throw from Shilton was headed towards his own goal by Cooper Marsh with Allsopp making a good save. Noon wasted a good opportunity, shooting well wide from a decent position. On the half hour mark, a shot from Haddaway was well blocked by the Atherstone defence. Atherstone were deservedly level in the 34th minute. A long clearance from Osborn, picked out Ryan Quinn on the right. His cross was missed in the middle and Ryan Harkin sent a looping header over Allsopp and into the far corner of the net. Seconds later, Harkin found the net again, but the goal was chalked off for offside. In the 40th minute, another mistake at the back by Rowe saw him robbed by Smith. His shot was blocked by Osborn, the rebound falling to Lucas Green-Birch and his effort was cleared off the line by Wells. On the stroke of half-time, Green-Birch robbed a defender, his cross being cut out by the Atherstone defence.
Half-Time: Brocton 1 Atherstone Town 1
Brocton were forced into a change at half-time with Seb Conaghan replacing the injured Dan Evans. Two minutes into the half, Smith flashed a free-kick inches wide of the post. In the 48th minute, Chris Cowley was well off target for Atherstone. Smith tried his luck from a tight angle, but Osborn was equal to it. The second half was a more even contest with both sides pushing to take the lead. In the 55th minute, Quinn connected well on the volley, and it was just wide. Atherstone should have taken the lead in the 66th minute. Harkin played the ball inside to Woakes who inexplicably missed the target with the goal at his mercy. Brocton went close when a header from Kenny Devoir was blocked and Jude King’s shot was narrowly wide. Brocton went close again in the 76th minute. A free-kick from Whieldon was headed fractionally wide by Green-Birch. Atherstone took the lead in the 80th minute. Brocton lost possession in their own half and two first time passes played in Cowley who gave Allsopp no chance with a superb finish. Brocton came close to an equaliser five minutes from time. A cross from Smith picked out King at the far post. His header was on target with Osborn pulling out a tremendous point blank save. The rebound fell to King, but his shot was wide. Atherstone played out the remaining minutes and ended Brocton’s long unbeaten run with a deserved victory.
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Cooper Marsh, Dan Evans (Seb Conaghan 45), Kenny Devoir (Toby Smith 81), Tom Vaughan, Josh Simcox, Will Whieldon, Lucas Green-Birch, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Cam Osborne (Jude King 60). Subs (Not Used): Archie Russell, Ben Hackett
Atherstone Town: Finn Osborn, Jack Wells, Josh Steele, Lewis Noon, Niall Rowe, Jacob Shilton, Ryan Quinn, Tom Smith, Ryan Harkin, Mitch Woakes (Connor Gudger 85), Chris Cowley. Subs (Not Used): Thomas Healy, Toby Nicoll, Harvey Rhoades, George Steele
Yellow Cards: Marsh, Vaughan (Brocton); Wells, Shilton, Smith, Cowley (Atherstone)
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