Tuesday 15th October
Staffordshire Senior Cup Round One
Brocton 5 Abbey Hulton United 2
Brocton welcomed Step 6 Abbey Hulton United to Silkmore Lane looking to end a run of poor results in cup competitions. Buoyed by their superb win at Lichfield City on Saturday, Brocton made four changes to the starting line-up. Dan Evans, Kenny Devoir, Reg Smith, and Morgan Payne came in for Adam Weldon (ill), Tom Vaughan (rested), Lucas Green-Birch (injured), and Christian Blanchette (rested and on the bench). Abbey Hulton had made a fine start to their season in the NWCFL and had won seven of their last nine competitive games.
Brocton started off on the front foot with Payne, making his first start for six weeks, having a shot blocked in the 2nd minute. Abbey Hulton responded, and Devoir got his head to a fierce drive from Liam Robinson. An excellent crossfield ball from Reg Smith picked out Will Whieldon on the right. His cross in was aimed for Payne but it was cut out by Abbey Hulton keeper Aaron Woolrich. Abbey Hulton took the lead in the 12th minute. Good approach play down the left saw a cross flicked on and Matt Ward was on hand to head home. Two minutes later, Whieldon tricked his way through the Abbey Hulton defence, his shot being well saved by Aaron Woolrich. A mistake at the back gave Whieldon another opportunity but his lob was far too high and cleared the bar. Brocton were back on terms in the 19th minute. The ball was played down the left wing for Payne, and he crossed into the box to the unmarked Reg Smith who nodded it home. Within three minutes, Brocton had turned it round and took the lead. A corner from Connor Haddaway was met at the far post by brother Ben and his header was well saved by Aaron Woolrich. The ball stayed in the six yard box and the returning Payne volleyed home for hist first goal of the season. Abbey Hulton were playing some impressive football and a cross from Kieran Brown was inches away from finding Ward in the area. Brown had a great chance in the 32nd minute, clean through in the area but Tony Allsopp spread himself and saved well. A great move from Brocton in the 35th minute with King and Reg Smith combining to create an opening for Payne who was inches wide with his effort. Brocton were really turning up the pressure. Ben Haddaway threaded a ball through to Reg Smith who shrugged off his defender and forced an excellent save from Aaron Woolrich. The ball came back out and Reg Smith connected but he was again foiled by the Abbey Hulton keeper. The keeper could do nothing however to stop Brocton’s 3rd goal in the 40th minute. Connor Haddaway controlled the ball, picked his spot, and sent a vicious volley into the top corner from 25 yards. It could have been four a minute before the break but for another excellent save by Aaron Woolrich. King played the ball to Smith and somehow the keeper managed to keep his shot out. That save proved even more valuable as Abbey Hulton broke with the Brocton defence caught napping, Brown picked out Robinson who beat the advancing Allsopp.
Half-Time: Brocton 3 Abbey Hulton United 2
Brocton made a change at half-time with Cameron Osborne making his first appearance of the season as he replaced Payne. Brocton extended their lead in the 49th minute and it was a goal of pure quality. A sequence of at least eight passes, with King and Whieldon prominent, ended with the coolest of finishes by Reg Smith. Both sides were giving as good as they got in midfield with Brocton having the edge. In the 58th minute, Reg Smith tried an audacious shot from wide on the right which Aaron Woolrich gathered. With 20 minutes left, a superb ball from Evans picked out Blanchette who looked destined to get a shot on target, but he was stopped by an excellent challenge from Josh Bristow. However, the Abbey Hulton defence was breached again in the 70th minute. A mistake from Callum Woolrich saw his clearance go straight to Reg Smith and he fired the ball into the empty net for his fifth hat-trick of the season, a remarkable effort considering it is still mid-October. In the 73rd minute, Abbey Hulton were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Robinson’s shot was on target as he forced Allsopp into a full length save. Abbey Hulton player manager Jonathan Beaumont joined the fray, and he hit the bar with a header from a corner. Reg Smith sent Osborne clear on the left. He cut inside and saw his shot blocked for a corner. In the 80th minute, a quick break by Abbey Hulton saw Daniel Cocks shot saved by Allsopp and the follow up from Lewis Holdham brilliantly blocked by Henry Smith. From the resulting corner. Aiden Blaise volleyed over from a tight angle. Brocton were still hungry for goals. With four minutes left, Reg Smith played the ball out wide to Alex Curtis and his shot was deflected behind for a corner. Two minutes later, Ben Haddaway tried to outdo his brother, and his shot from 30 yards was just over the bar. In the final minute, Smith played an exquisite ball inside the defence, into the path of Curtis. His shot was a poor one and failed to trouble Aaron Woolrich.
Full time: Brocton 5 Abbey Hulton United 2 Attendance:164
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Josh Simcox, Dan Evans, Ben Haddaway, Kenny Devoir, Charlie King (Henry Smith 68), Will Whieldon, Jake Thomas (Christian Blanchette 62), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway (Alex Curtis 71), Morgan Payne (Cameron Osborne 45). Sub (Not Used): Ben Hackett
Abbey Hulton United: Aaron Woolrich, Callum Woolrich, Josh Bristow (Daniel Cocks 71), Izaak Walsh, Matthew Plant, Scott Lycett (Aiden Blaise70), Liam Connolly, Jack Gumbley, Kieran Brown (Luke Lewis 54), Matt Ward (Lewis Holdham 54), Liam Robinson (Jonathan Beaumont 74)
Yellow Cards: Evans, King (Brocton)
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