Saturday 16th November
Midland Football League Premier Division
Wolverhampton Casuals 2 Brocton 3
Brocton made the short journey up the A449 to face Wolverhampton Casuals, who they beat 7-0 at Silkmore Lane at the beginning of October. Brocton made two changes from the side that beat Stone Old Alleynians last weekend. Jake Thomas returned from suspension to replace Kenny Devoir, while Cam Osborne came in for Dan Evans with Charlie King filling in at left-back.
Brocton started with a bang. Christian Blanchette played the ball into the path of Will Whieldon and his shot cannoned off the inside of the post without a red shirt able to convert the rebound. This effort after just 58 seconds should have sent a warning to the home side but they did not heed it as Brocton took the lead inside two minutes. A shot from Blanchette was saved by Lucas Kibrya, the follow up falling to Whieldon who shot into the corner. Cassies were almost level in the 5th minute. Josh Christie outpaced the Brocton defence, got through on goal but he saw his shot rebound off the inside of the post. The pitch was having a major impact on the football being played. In the 11th minute, Osborne wriggled through the defence, but he tripped on the surface and the chance was lost. Christie was proving to be a real menace for Brocton and a good run from the wide man forced a corner as the ball was played into the box. Cassies were giving as good as they got, and Charlie King made an excellent block to thwart Jonathan Millinchip. Brocton crested an opening in the 22nd minute, a lay-off from Reg Smith found Osborne whose shot was off target. Connor Haddaway was next to try his luck with his left-footed drive across the goal and wide. Without being at their fluent best, Brocton were still creating openings, and a shot on the turn from Whieldon was well blocked by the home defence. Arjun Toor went close for Cassies, his shot just wide of Tony Allsopp’s post. Allsopp was brought into action, saving comfortably from Connor Parker. A cross from Connor Haddaway was met by Blanchette but his header was well wide. In the 35th minute, a shot from Whieldon bounced in front of Kibrya who made an excellent save to turn it aside for a corner. From the corner, a shot from Tom Vaughan was straight at Kibrya. Cassies should have been level in the 38th minute. Toor, with the goal at his mercy, hit the post when he really should have scored. Brocton should have doubled their lead two minutes before half-time. Connor Haddaway passed the ball back to Whieldon, and his cross to the far post was met by Blanchette but his effort went agonisingly wide. On the stroke of half-time, Cassies again went close. A cross from James Pritchard was missed completely by Toor in front of goal, and the ball eventually went out for a goal kick.
Half-time: Wolverhampton Causals 0 Brocton 1
Brocton had an early opportunity in the second half to double their lead. A free kick from Connor Haddaway was rolled into the path of Reg Smith, and his shot on the turn was well saved by Kibrya. Cassies responded with a fierce shot from Reece Mason forcing a diving save from Allsopp. Cassies were level in the 49th minute. A corner into the box saw a goalmouth scramble and the ball ended in the net from a Brocton defender. Smith had an attempt which cleared the bar before Cassies shocked Brocton with a second goal in the 52nd minute. An inswinging corner from Billy Corns wasn’t dealt with as it flew directly into the Brocton net. The shock of being 2-1 down forced Brocton into a response. Substitute Lucas Green-Birch fired over the bar from a good position as Brocton range the changes in both personnel and formation. Connor Haddaway overhit a cross from wide right as Brocton pushed for an equaliser. It should have come in the 73rd minute. Charlie King crossed from the right where it was met by his younger brother Jude, inside the 6-yard box but unfortunately the youngster cleared the bar with his effort. It was now pretty much one-way traffic as Cassies sat back to try and protect their lead. Green-Birch was off target with another effort. Charlie King then found Whieldon in a great position, but his shot was just over the angle of post and bar. Vaughan went close with another effort before Jude King was fouled on the edge of the area. Whieldon stepped up but his free kick was over the bar. At this stage it felt as though this wasn’t going to be Brocton’s day. In the 90th minute, a Connor Haddaway free kick was headed goalwards by Blanchette and tipped onto the crossbar by Kibrya, Brocton apoplectic when a goal kick was awarded. Two minutes into added time, Charlie King drove into the box only to be brought down. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Whieldon stepped up and placed the penalty into the corner despite a super effort from Kibrya. Brocton raced to get the ball back, sensing a dramatic turnround. In the 4th minute of stoppage time, Morgan Payne did well keeping the ball alive. It came back to Blanchette and his cross into the area was attacked by Jude King. The Cassies centre-back Wheaver got into a tangle and managed to put the ball into his own net to send the majority of the crowd into raptures. There was just time to kick off as Brocton yet again came from behind to take all three points.
Full-time: Wolverhampton Casuals 2 Brocton 3 Attendance:87
Wolverhampton Casuals: Lucas Kibrya, James Pritchard, Reece Mason, Sam Higginson, Ben Wheaver, Charlie Swingwood, Jonathan Millinchip, Billy Corns, Arjun Toor (Denis Halliday 77), Conner Parker (Tyler Bishop 70), Josh Christie (Rob Allsebrook 67). Subs (Not Used): Hayden Semour, Farid Mikidam
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Adam Weldon (Jude King 68), Charlie King, Ben Haddaway, Tom Vaughan, Christian Blanchette, Will Whieldon, Jake Thomas (Morgan Payne 85), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Cam Osborne (Lucas Green-Birch 60). Subs (Not Used): Kenny Devoir, Toby Smith
Yellow Cards: Higginson, Swingwood (Wolverhampton Casuals)
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