Season completed with defeat at Dudley

Saturday April 12th

Capelli Sport MFL Premier Division

Dudley Town 2 Brocton 0

Brocton were forced into changes from the side that clinched their play-off spot against Highgate United. Tom Vaughan, Jake Thomas, and Josh Simcox all missed out with Ben Haddaway, Cooper Marsh and Lucas Green-Birch coming in to the starting line-up. Dudley Town came into the game as one of the form sides in the division and would provide a stern challenge for Brocton before the play-offs.

Dudley went close inside the first minute. Tom Owen struck a volley which Tony Allsopp did well to turn over. Three minutes later, a cross from the left was headed wide by Lewis Mitchell as Dudley dominated. Ethan Muckley skipped past Allsopp, was forced wide by Kenny Devoir but cut back and shot goalwards with Allsopp saving with his feet. Brocton had the ball in the net in their first attack in the 7th minute. A ball over the top was volleyed into the far corner by Reg Smith, the linesman indicating that the striker was offside. Brocton finally found their rhythm. On the quarter hour, Jude King ran into the area and his shot was well saved by Tom Carter. A deep corner from Connor Haddaway was headed back into the box by Ben Haddaway and the home side managed to scramble it away to safety. Green-Birch found space, but his shot was high and wide. Dudley responded with a strong run and shot from Dan Jones which Allsopp saved well. Dudley wasted another good chance in the 19th minute. A cross into the box was headed over by the unchallenged Muckley. Both sides were playing excellent football. A quick break from Brocton saw Green-Birch’s shot half blocked allowing Carter to gather. A good piece of interplay between Smith and Will Whieldon saw the latter drag his shot wide. The game was end to end and Joe Colley forced Allsopp to tip his header over the bar. On the half hour mark, Mitchell was found in space on the right, but his shot was well off target. Back came Brocton and Whieldon swerved a shot with the outside of his right foot wide of the goal. Charlie King had a rare attempt on goal which was off target. In the 44th minute, a brilliant block by Ben Haddaway foiled Muckley. The rebound fell to Dudley’s leading scorer Matt Funge, and his volley was into the ground and over the bar. Dudley took the lead in the 45th minute. Muckley robbed Jake Danan, cut inside, and curled a superb shot into the top corner. A minute later, a cross from Mitchell picked out Muckley at the far post but his effort was over the bar.

Half-Time: Dudley Town 1 Brocton 0

Seb Conaghan replaced Ben Haddaway at half-time and the youngster was soon in the action, a low cross from the right straight at Carter. Brocton had an excellent chance to level in the 52nd minute. Smith played the ball into the path of Jude King. He scuffed his shot, but Carter still stretched to save. In the 59th minute, Dudley were awarded a free kick in a good position. Connor Armstrong took it, shooting wide of the near post. Brocton had another excellent chance moments later. Conaghan got the wrong side of the defender, but one-on-one with Carter, it was the Dudley keeper that saved with his legs. Dudley substitute Jones was causing problems down the left and he flashed an inviting ball across the face of goal. Dudley were a constant threat, and Colley headed the ball across the Brocton area with no one on hand to turn it home. Brocton had kept Funge quiet, and he had a shot on target in the 79th minute which was comfortably saved by Allsopp. Christian Blanchette tried his luck from distance before Dudley doubled their lead in the 83rd minute. The impressive Muckley reached the Brocton by-line, looked up and played the ball into the path of Harry Crook. He took a touch, opened up his body and fired a shot into the roof of the net. Two minutes later, Brocton went close again. Smith’s shot was saved by Carter. Smith himself picked up the rebound and hammered a shot off the post. Brocton, to their credit, kept striving for the goal. Conaghan had a shot deflected for a corner. Connor Haddaway’s delivery to the far post was headed back in by Devoir and Danan volleyed wide. Brocton’s final chance fell to Blanchette who drove across the face of goal. An inconsistent refereeing display was compounded by the sinbinning of Crook in the 3rd minute of time added on – a decision which confounded everyone in the ground except the man in black.

Full-Time: Dudley Town 2 Brocton 0 Attendance:202

Dudley Town: Tom Carter, Luke Hennessey (Lewis Riley-Stewart 40), Tom Owen (Dan Jones 17), Joe Colley, Jamie Beddall, Owen Massey, Lewis Mitchell. Connor Armstrong, Matt Funge (Harry Crook 81), Jordan Davies (Kai Singh 88), Ethan Muckley. Sub (Not Used): Dominic Hill

Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Jake Danan, Cooper Marsh (Morgan Payne 75), Kenny Devoir, Ben Haddaway (Seb Conaghan 45), Charlie King, Will Whieldon, Lucas Green-Birch (Christian Blanchette 67), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Jude King (Cam Osborne 75). Sub (Not Used): Liam Prendergast

Yellow Card: Funge (Dudley Town)

Sin Bin (Crook (Dudley Town)