Saturday 9th September
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Alsager Town 1 Brocton 2
Brocton made two changes from the side that thumped league leaders Abbey Hey last weekend. Charlie Marshall and Connor Haddaway replaced Adam Weldon and Christian Blanchette in the starting line-up. Alsager came into the game unbeaten at home and with Brocton having a 100% win record away from home, something had to give.
In steaming temperatures, it was the home side that had the first attempt with Chris Hunt’s deep cross just over the bar. In the 3rd minute, a cross from Will Whieldon to the near post was muscled away by the Alsager defence. Whieldon again caused problems for the home defence; his cross taken away from Morgan Payne. Whieldon then teed up Reg Smith and his first time shot was just wide. Brocton took the lead in the 9th minute. Haddaway found space in the box and his firm shot was fumbled over the line by Alsager keeper Ryan Brown. Brocton were playing the better football with Alsager relying on long throws and long balls forward. In the 20th minute, Reg Smith picked out Haddaway and his shot hit the side netting. Alsager had an excellent chance to draw level in the 28th minute. A corner from the right was met by the unmarked Louis Johnson but his header was off target. A long ball forward from Marshall picked out Payne the wrong side of the Alsager defence, his first time shot easily dealt with by Brown. In the 37th minute, Payne threaded the ball through to Charlie King who ran through the defence but shot over the bar. Brocton should have made it two in the 40th minute. King played in Reg Smith, and he beat Brown with his shot coming back off the post. Alsager were back on terms in the 45th minute. Jack Woolley picked up the ball in space on the left, played it inside to Kallam Boyle and his shot took a big deflection, wrongfooting Tony Allsopp and finding the corner of the net.
Half-Time: Alsager Town 1 Brocton 1
Brocton made a change at half-time with Tom Vaughan replacing Henry Smith. Within a minute of the restart, Brocton went close with Haddaway curling a shot over the bar. Brocton regained the lead in the 49th minute. A crossfield ball from Jake Thomas caught out Liam Kettle, the ball squirting off his head into the path of Payne. Brocton’s leading scorer ran at the Alsager defence, beat two defenders before finding the bottom corner with an excellent finish. Brocton were playing good football in patches and some intricate interchanges on the edge of the 6-yard box won a corner. Whieldon had another attempt on goal which cleared the bar. Haddaway had a decent chance for Brocton in the 62nd minute, finding space in the left hand edge of the area, his shot being well blocked for a corner. Alsager were continuing their direct bombardment of the Brocton defence with Brocton holding firm. In the 70th minute, Reg Smith was inches over with a drive from the edge of the area. Alsager missed another chance two minutes later. A cross from Boyle was headed wide by Lukas Jacobsen-Murphy. Alsager were asking more questions and Kenny Devoir did well to clear a ball played in by Woolley. In the 87th minute, Reg Smith juggled the ball before volleying goalwards where Brown made a decent save. In the 6th minute of stoppage time, Elliott Coleman swivelled on a ball in the box hit a volley towards the top corner, where Allsopp made a fine save, Brocton saw out the remaining minutes to record their sixth successive victory.
Full-Time: Alsager Town 1 Brocton 2 Attendance:114
Alsager Town: Ryan Brown, Same Son (Oliver Pope 66), Chris Hunt, Liam Kettle (Lukas Jacobsen-Murphy 57), Louis Johnson, Elliott Coleman, Jacob Stretch, Richard McAleese (Theo Smith 90+2), Jack Woolley, Thomas Hassall (Oliver Jones 88), Kallam Boyle. Sub (Not Used): Edward Hilditch
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Charlie Marshall, Matty Bestall (Dan Evans 67), Kenny Devoir, Henry Smith (Tom Vaughan 45), Charlie King (Christian Blanchette 57), Will Whieldon (Lucas Green-Birch 67), Jake Thomas, reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Morgan Payne (Declan Arber 80)
Yellow Cards: Coleman, Boyle (Alsager); Reg Smith, Vaughan (Brocton)
Comments