Saturday 27th July
Pre-Season Friendly
Brocton 2 Lye Town 4
Brocton made four changes from the side that drew with Sporting Khalsa in midweek. Adam Weldon, Ben Haddaway, Connor Haddaway and Cam Osborne all starting with Reg Smith (injured), Will Whieldon, Josh Simcox and Archie Russell (bench) missing out. Lye Town had an excellent season at Step 4 and were the fourth consecutive Step 4 side visiting Silkmore Lane.
The game opened with neither side making any real inroads. In the 9th minute, Blanchette played a deep ball to the far post which just evaded the onrushing Connor Haddaway. Lye were awarded a free kick in the 12th minute, but the delivery was poor, and the chance wasted. Brocton went close s minute later. Excellent approach play sent Morgan Payne clear on the right. His cross was met powerfully by the head of Blanchette, but the header flashed wide. Back came Lye and Kieran Francis shot over the bar from an excellent position. Lye were a threat going forward and a shot from Cain Smith was well blocked by Ben Haddaway in the centre of the Brocton defence. In the 26th minute, an excellent challenge by Cooper Marsh fed Lucas Green-Birch who raced forward and curled a superb shot inches wide. Brocton took the lead in the 30th minute. Charlie king burst through on goal and his shot was well saved by Scott Cashmore. Osborne followed up and his effort was cleared off the line. The ball fell to Payne who volleyed home. A long ball from Ben Haddaway picked out Blanchette, the wrong side of the defence. The wide man travelled into the penalty are abut was stopped by an excellent challenge from Danny Cartwright. Lye thought they had equalised in the 36th minute. Elliott Ball poked the ball goalwards, his shot hitting the inside of the post and somehow bouncing to safety. The end to end nature of the game continued with Blanchette picking out Payne and his shot was well saved, low down, by Cashmore. Brocton had the ball in the net a minute before the break. A low ball across goal from Blanchette was turned home by Payne but the offside flag was raised.
Half-Time: Brocton 1 Lye Town 0
Lye started the second half well and a cross from the right was cleared under pressure by Ben Haddaway. In the 49th minute, a rare mistake by the assured Marsh was tidied up by Tom Vaughan, too strong and controlled for the Lye forward. A minute later, a cross from Osborne was met perfectly by Payne and his header was brilliantly tipped over by Cashmore. Lye were back on terms in the 53rd minute. Ben Tozer picked his spot from 25 yards, and it flew past Tony Allsopp. Brocton should have retaken the lead in the 57th minute. A poor clearance from Cashmore was straight to Blanchette. He carried the ball forward but was off target with his shot. Brocton were made to pay as Lye took the lead in the 61st minute. Weldon was beaten for pace down the right by Smith and his cross was turned into the net by Ball. The best way to react to going a goal behind is to respond immediately and Brocton did just that equalising within a minute. An excellent through ball from Connor Haddaway was into the path of Osborne. He cut inside onto his right foot and hammered a shot into the far corner. Brocton had the bit between their teeth and a shot from Blanchette took a deflection and went behind for a corner, with Cashmore completely wrongfooted. From the corner taken by Connor Haddaway, Ben Haddaway saw his header cleared off the line. Another excellent Brocton move ended with Osborne having a shot blocked. In the 77th minute, a wonderful through ball from Ben Hackett picked out Whieldon, His shot was well saved by Cashmore. The rebound fell to him and again the keeper pulled off a fine save. Lye took the lead in the 83rd minute. The Lye 15 shrugged off two defenders and slid the ball past Allsopp. Two minutes from time, Taylor Homer was through on goal with Allsopp saving well. Lye grabbed a fourth in the 90th minute. Homer hit a free kick round the wall and into the bottom corner. The full-time score was harsh on Brocton who more than held their own against higher ranked opponents.
Full-time: Brocton 2 Lye Town 4 Attendance 111
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Cooper Marsh (Josh Simcox 68), Adam Weldon, Ben Haddaway (Archie Russell 75), Tom Vaughan, Charlie King, Christian Blanchette (Seb Conaghan 79), Lucas Green-Birch (Will Whieldon 68), Morgan Payne, Connor Haddaway (Ben Hackett 75), Cam Osborne (Jude King 79)
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