Wednesday 13th October
JW Hunt Cup Round 1
Wolverhampton Sporting Community 1 Brocton 1 Brocton win 4-2 on penalties
Brocton began life under new manager Alex Curtis with a trip to Midland Football League First Division Wolverhampton Sporting Community. Connor Haddaway, signed permanently from Chasetown, and Ben Douglas, returning to the club from Stafford Town, were both given starting places.
From the kick off Brocton were full out on the attack. Cameron Jackson raced into the box and had the ball whisked off his head by an alert home keeper, Connor Hoskins as he shaped to head in. Still within the opening five minutes Jackson fought for a ball over the back line and squeezed it across to Connor Haddaway, whose shot went high. Haddaway’s next attempt just five minutes later was hit on the turn as he held off the defence and this time his effort was deflected wide. Dan Evans’ corner caused mayhem in the goal mouth and the ball was forced over the line only for a hand ball to be given and Sporting could take a breath. With good first touches all over the pitch and speed on the break, Sporting looked dangerous on the break, and it took fighting spirit throughout the Brocton side to hold the waves of attack at bay. There was danger on the twenty minute mark when Kenny Devoir was deemed to have been too free with his arms when resisting being backed into and the resulting free kick brought the best out of Tony Allsopp, who claimed the ball in the box under pressure. Ben Haddaway headed wide from a Dan Evans cross, and Connor Haddaway brought a fine save from Hopkins on the half hour. But it was the home side who broke the deadlock. A break down the right seemed to have been covered by Ben Douglas, but as he vainly appealed that he had been clipped, the referee allowed play to continue and Tabara Maxwell had the easies of tap ins from the resulting cross. It was harsh on the visitors, but it did not dent the effort and Ryan Douglas curled a shot just wide of the post after the ball had been well worked across from right to left. Connor Haddaway then held off two defenders to muscle his way into the box but could get little power on his shot and before the end of the half there was still time for Jake Thomas to dribble into the box and win a corner, for Ben Douglas to glance a header at goal and be given off side and for Ben Haddaway run out of steam when he shot at goal, having had to practically carry his defender with him.
Half Time: Wolverhampton Sporting Community 1 Brocton 0
The game took on a hurried look at the start of the second period with both sides trying to get the ball forward quickly and it seemed that both goal keepers were being found too easily. On the hour Luke Haddaway blocked a threatening run by the lively Maxwell and Tony Allsopp was once more called into action in the box, taking a high ball with confidence. Another free kick quickly followed and this one looked generous. The ball ran loose in the box and an overhead kick at goal from Roger Bosio sailed over the bar much to Brocton’s relief. On 65 minutes, Jake Thomas was replaced by Todd Pryor and five minutes later Jamie Weldon came on for Dan Evans with Malaki Norford switching to the left back spot. It was from Norford’s cross field pass over the defence that Brocton’s equaliser came as Ben Haddaway produced the slickest of touches to put the ball beyond Hopkins.
With Harry Griffiths coming on for the final moments of the game, it seemed impossible that the tempo could increase but it did right up to the final whistle. But the only clear chance for either side came as Khenan Barrett got to the bye line on the left and hit across goal. It could have caused problems, but it was over hit and went safely out at the far side of the pitch.
Full Time; Wolverhampton Sporting Community 1 Brocton 1
The game was settled on penalties and with Sporting missing their first, Brocton were in the driving seat. Ben Douglas, Todd Pryor, and Connor Haddaway scored the first three and with Sporting’s third also being blasted wide, young Cameron Jackson stepped up to win it for the Badgers and made no mistake.
Wolverhampton Sporting Community: Connor Hopkins, Kieran Francis, Louis Conway Jordan Spragg, Hayden Seymour, Adanijah Allen, Roger Bosio, Tabara Maxwell, Khenan Barrett
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Malaki Norford, Dan Evans, Luke Haddaway, Ben Douglas, Kenny Devoir, Ben Haddaway, Jake Thomas, Cameron Jackson, Connor Haddaway, Ryan Douglas.
Used Substitutes: Todd Pryor, Jamie Weldon, Harry Griffiths
Unused: Josh Mousley, Jack Thomas.
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