Tuesday 6th July, Pre-season Friendly
Brocton and MFL Premier Division Tividale served up a five goal thriller at Silkmore Lane.
The game started quietly, and it took 17 minutes before the first worthwhile attempt on goal was made with Dan Smith not really testing Brocton keeper Corey Mallen. Tividale centre-back Matt Hunt rose highest from a corner but planted his header wide. Tividale should have opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Adam Weldon was adjudged to have pushed Lewis McPike in the penalty area and for the second game in succession, referee Terry Holbrook pointed to the spot. McPike took the penalty but was foiled by a fine save by Mallen. It was the Badgers that opened the scoring four minutes later. Dean Williams latched onto a through ball but was thwarted by Pete Hawk racing off his line. The ball eventually reached the feet of Jack Weldon, who took his time to pick his spot to leave Hawk stranded. Smith went close for Tividale, beating Mallen to the ball and seeing his shot from a narrow angle cleared off the line. Tyree Clarke rattled the woodwork for the visitors, but it was Brocton who made it two just before the break. A sumptuous through ball from Jack Partridge picked out the run of Josh Mousley and he expertly slotted past the onrushing Hawk.
Half-Time: Brocton 2 Tividale 0
Both sides made changes at half-time, but it was the introduction of trialist B up front for Tividale which had an immediate impression. Tividale pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute when Trialist B pounced on a loose ball and curled a superb shot past into the far corner. Two minutes later and the sides were level. A free-kick to the near post saw Trialist B react quicker then the Badgers defence to turn the ball home. Brocton responded with a 25 yard rocket from Jake Thomas forcing a fine save from Hawk. Tividale completed the turnaround in the 57th minute with Hayden Reeves meeting Ryan Grosvenor’s free-kick and his header gave Mallen no chance. The chances kept coming for both sides with Elliott Hartley firing over for Tividale and Mousley ballooning a shot over the bar after being teed up by Malaki Norford. Trialist B, looking for his hat-trick, was thwarted by Mallen rushing off his line. At the other end, Thomas again forced a save from Hawk. Thomas was becoming more influential as the half went on, and he created a fine chance for Mousley, but his shot was saved. Brocton should have grabbed a deserved equaliser a few minutes from time when Williams was played in, but his shot was dragged wide with Hawk Well beaten.
Full Time: Brocton 2 Tividale 3
Brocton: Corey Mallen, Adam Weldon, Jamie Dolman, Jamie Weldon, Josh Small, Jack Partridge, Josh Mousley, Ben Haddaway, Dean Williams, Jack Weldon, Malaki Norford. Subs (all used): Jake Thomas, Jayden, Cameron Jackson, Jack Thomas
Tividale: Pete Hawk, Dan Bryson, Elliott Hartley, Cameron Milne, Hayden Reeves, Matt Hunt, Lewis McPike, Liam Wilkinson, Tyree Clarke, Dan Smith, Ryan Grosvenor. Subs (all used): Trialist B, Sasha Doulay, Alfie Bustin.
Comments