Tuesday 16th July 2024
Pre-season Friendly
Winsford United 2 – 4 Brocton
Brocton went into this pre-season friendly missing nine members of the first team, and starting five under 18’s including Cooper Marsh, Archie Russell and Charlie King in a youthful backline, with Ben Hackett and Seb Conaghan also in the starting lineup. Winsford, with a new look side, had had an excellent start to pre-season with some impressive results.
Brocton started quickly, with a freekick taken by Tony Allsop deep inside his own half, finding it’s way over the heads of the Winsford defence, and onto the right foot of Will Whieldon, who brought the ball down spectacularly and slotted it past the goalkeeper to give Brocton a lead after just two minutes. This would be the theme of the opening five minutes as a flurry of shots on the Winsford goal from Whieldon continuing his impressive pre-season form. Winsford found their way into the game after a loose ball down the Brocton left almost resulted in an equalizer, with a ball crossed to the back post giving Brocton an early scare. This would continue throughout the game to be a problem for the Badgers, as Winsford’s aerial threat against the youthful backline would cause problem after problem. A mazy run from a Winsford attacker almost resulted in a wonder goal, after he beat multiple players on his way into the box, but some last ditch defending from Archie Russell and Tom Vaughan and some ping-pong in the six-yard box saved Brocton once again. The Winsford pressure continued as a counterattack down the left wing forced Allsopp into a great save, and more threat from set-pieces – especially the Winsford long throw. Brocton started to regain some control of the game as the half progressed; great buildup play from the Brocton midfield, particularly Ben Hackett who found Reg Smith on the edge of the box, flicking it through to Conaghan who slid it past the goalkeeper to double Brocton’s advantage on the thirty-two minutes. Winsford replied instantly, with a goal just two minutes later from a freekick launched into the Brocton box that resulted in a volley from their number 6 to halve the deficit. It was almost an equalizer for Winsford just before the half-time whistle, as they had a goal chalked off for a push in the box – appeal from the Winsford management to the referee continued down the tunnel.
Half-time: Winsford United 1 Brocton 2
Brocton started the second half, similarly to how they started the first with Whieldon bombing down the left wing after a ball in behind and finding an unmarked Reg Smith on the edge of the box who smashes past the keeper to make it 3-1 to Brocton. Within thirty seconds, Brocton almost had a fourth as another ball in behind, this time down the right, for Lucas Green-Birch who attempted a chip which whistled past the post. Both teams continue to threaten each other’s goal, but it’s Winsford who get one back in the 62nd minute after another looping throw bounces around the Brocton box and is headed home by Elliott Coleman to make it 3-2. Not long after, Reg Smith attempted an overhead kick after Charlie King, who impressed from right-back, whipped one into the area. 16 year old Jude King was introduced from the bench along with teenage keeper Mackenzie Wilson and both were to have an impact on the game. In the 78th minute Jude King exploded down the left wing and into the Winsford box, cutting back and in the process having his left foot caught by the Winsford defender and going down – the referee pointed to the spot. Whieldon stepped up and placed his kick into the top right corner, giving Brocton a 4-2 lead. As the game continued, the youthful centre back pairing of Russell and Marsh grew more and more comfortable on and off the ball, as well as Devoir who had an exceptional second half. Brocton controlled the final quarter of an hour, with some fantastic football in midfield, but a late attack from Winsford forced Wilson into a fantastic double save and a goal line clearance from Russell. The full time whistle blew on a fantastic evening and performance from both sides, valuable minutes for some young players and a great run out. New look Winsford will be a force in the NWCFL this season and this was an excellent result for the young Badgers.
Full-time: Winsford United 2 Brocton 4
Brocton: Tony Allsopp (Mackenzie Wilson 62), Charlie King, Cooper Marsh, Archie Russell, Tom Vaughan (Kenny Devoir 45), Ben Hackett, Seb Conaghan (Toby Smith 75), Jake Thomas (Jude King 62), Reg Smith, Lucas Green-Birch, Will Whieldon. Sub (Not Used): Alex Curtis
Report by Zak Whitton
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