Saturday 19th October
Midland Football League Premier Division
Brocton 1 Northwich Victoria 1
Brocton made one change from the side that beat league leaders Lichfield City last weekend. Reg Smith came back into the side in place of the injured Lucas Green-Birch. Northwich Victoria came into the game on the back of three games unbeaten as they sat in the middle of the table.
It was the visitors that made the first impression with Marcus Perry forcing Josh Simcox to bring him down. In the 3rd minute, a free kick from Perry picked out Jack Coop and his shot was blocked. Brocton’s first real attack came from a cross from Connor Haddaway with Christian Blanchette beaten in the air by Harris Saunders. Vics had made a positive start and Simcox was forced into a good defensive header from a deep cross. Brocton had a great chance in the 13th minute. Blanchette did well down the left, his low cross was left by Smith and Will Whieldon, in prime position, saw his shot well blocked. Brocton started to up their game. An overlap from Adam Weldon forced Vics to clear their lines. The ball was lifted over the top for Whieldon and again his cross was intercepted by the Vics defence. Midway through the half, Smith beat three defenders to reach the 6-yard box, but his final effort was blocked. Vics wasted an excellent chance to break the deadlock a couple of minutes later. An incisive run and cross from Sam Unwin was headed wide by Matty Clarke who should have hit the target. Back came Brocton with Charlie King feeding Blanchette. He cut inside and curled a superb shot from 20 yards which hit the cross bar. Simcox was next to try his luck, firing over the bar from wide on the left. In the 31st minute, the woodwork saved the Vics again. Charlie King curling a shot goalwards with the ball hitting the top of the crossbar. Vics took the lead in the 35th minute. The impressive Perry took the ball past Simcox who brought him down in the penalty area. Perry himself took the penalty which he despatched past Allsopp. The end to end nature of the game continued and Kier Barry did well to tip over a free kick from Whieldon. From the resulting corner, the ball ricocheted around the penalty area before Jake Thomas hammered the ball goalwards with Vics again throwing in the block. Perry almost made it two for Vics as he wriggled through the defence only to be thwarted by a fine save from Allsopp. Just before the break, Vics has another decent chance when a long ball forward found Coop unmarked but his shot from distance was well wide.
Half time: Brocton 0 Northwich Victoria 1
Five minutes into the second half, Charlie King was fouled just outside the area. Up stepped Smith and his free kick skimmed the crossbar. Despite defending in numbers, Vics were a real threat on the break. A good run by Unwin was blocked for a corner. Unwin again tried his luck as the ball came out to him, but Ben Haddaway was alert and put in a fine block. Ben Haddaway excelled himself in the 53rd minute, his challenge on Coop denying a clear opportunity for the Vics striker. Brocton were dominating possession, and the chances started to come on a regular basis. A driving run from Tom Vaughan opened up the Vics defence and his shot was just over the bar. Just after the hour, Connor Haddaway took aim, but his shot was always rising and failed to trouble Barry. Smith had been kept reasonably quiet by the Vics defence and when he was picked out by Connor Haddaway, his first time volley was just wide. Brocton wasted another good chance in the 67th minute. Smith teed up Whieldon and his shot was off target. The pressure eventually told, and Brocton equalised in the 69th minute. Thomas, in space outside the box, fired low into the far corner. Brocton now sensed victory. A piece of excellent control by Blanchette was not matched by the finish. In the 77th minute, a corner from Connor Haddaway was met by brother Ben and the Vics defence somehow scrambled it away. Vics continued to be a threat whenever they got forward. Connor Russo raced clear down the right and his cross was superbly cleared by Ben Haddaway. Brocton were left wondering how they had not taken the lead in the 86th minute. Shots from Morgan Payne, Smith and Blanchette were all blocked by the resolute Vics defence. In the 89th minute, Smith hit a shot on the turn which was well over the bar. A minute into stoppage time, an excellent cross from Jude King was well defended at the near post. Two minutes later, Vics could have stolen the points, Another good break saw the ball played into Callum Parker in front of goal, but he snatched at the chance, and it cleared Allsopp’s crossbar. With six minutes of added time played, Smith forced an excellent save from Barry and Connor Haddaway saw another effort blocked as Vics remained defiant to the end.
Full Time: Brocton 1 Northwich Victoria 1 Attendance:241
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Adam Weldon (Dan Evans 59), Josh Simcox, Ben Haddaway, Tom Vaughan, Charlie King, Will Whieldon (Morgan Payne 78), Jake Thomas, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Christian Blanchette (Jude King 90). Subs (Not Used): Kenny Devoir, Alex Curtis
Northwich Victoria: Kier Barry, Connor Russon, Joe Hurst, Matty Clarke, Mackenzie Faulkner (Joe Camozzi 55), Harris Saunders, Sam Unwin (Jackson Kelly 65), Will Lloyd (Sam Oberdare 74), Jack Coop (Callum Parker 59), Dylan Switters (Anton Smith 59), Marcus Perry
Yellow Cards: Simcox, Smith, Blanchette (Brocton); Clarke, Lloyd, Switters, Parker (Northwich Victoria)
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