Saturday 9th November
Midland Football League Premier Division
Brocton 3 Stone Old Alleynians 1
2nd place Brocton faced local rivals 4th placed Stone Old Alleynians looking to avenge a 2-0 defeat in October. Brocton made two changes with Jake Thomas and Josh Simcox both suspended. Dan Evans and Kenny Devoir came into the starting line-up. Stone showed one change from their last game with Jonah Kampos Green starting at left back.
The visitors began brightly. A cross from the left in the 5th minute was hooked wide by Jack Tomlinson. Three minutes later, Stone skipper, Matt Thomas, volleyed over from a decent position. Brocton had a great chance to take the lead moments later. A long ball from Evans was controlled by Ben Haddaway but he lifted his shot over Raj Gill and the crossbar. A cross from Will Whieldon was cut out by player manager Luke Askey before Stone took the lead in the 14th minute. Excellent control from Bowater on the right, saw the ball knocked back to Josh Goodwin who took a touch and fired past Tony Allsopp. It could have been two shortly afterwards when Sam Wilson broke through, Allsopp saving his goal bound effort with his head. Stone continued to ask all the questions and Thomas wasted a glorious opportunity heading wide from inside the 6-yard box. A deep free kick from Whieldon, just evaded Devoir as Brocton tried to respond. Smith was being tightly marked but a forceful run across goal saw his shot well saved by Gill. Stone had another chance on the half hour mark, a cross from Bowater behind the waiting Wilson. Tom Vaughan was then called in to action to make a fine block from Jack van der Laan. The chances kept coming for the visitors and Tomlinson should have done better with an effort that cleared the crossbar. Tom Thorley was just off target with a shot from 25 yards. With five minutes to the break, Vaughan kept the score to one with a superb goal line clearance from Bowater. Tomlinson had a looping header saved by Allsopp. Brocton’s best piece of football to date almost brought an equaliser as Charlie King’s through ball picked out Smith and his first time shot was inches over. On the stroke of half-time, Evans tried his luck from distance which failed to trouble Gill.
Half-time: Brocton 0 Stone Old Alleynians 1
Brocton began the second half with more energy and renewed purpose. A cross from Adam Weldon was flicked on by Ben Haddaway and Christian Blanchette was blocked by the Stone defence. A bizarre incident in the 50th minute changed the complexion of the game. Tomlinson went to the touchline after receiving treatment. He then re-entered the field of play without the referee’s permission. The Brocton bench were quick to point this out to the officials with the referee responding with a second yellow card for Tomlinson. It was certainly a glaring error by the visitors considering the referee had been tight on minor infringements. Brocton scented their chance to get back into the game with Stone short-handed. Smith tried his luck from distance, Gill making a comfortable save. Despite being down to ten men, Stone should have doubled their lead on the hour mark. Wilson met Van der Laan’s corner but missed the target with his header. The introduction of Cam Osborne swung the game Brocton’s way, and they were level in the 63rd minute, some 45 seconds after the substitution. Incisive football sent Smith free, and his low cross was turned in by Osborne, running in. Within a minute, Brocton had the chance to take the lead. A shot from Vaughan was fumbled by Gill. Osborne picked up the rebound but was brought down before he could tap the ball home. The referee pointed to the spot. Whieldon stepped up and Gill made a superb save to turn it behind for a corner. Stone were still in the game. An excellent ball down the line from Askey picked out the run of Bowater, the wrong side of Evans. His ball in was brilliantly cleared by King. At the other end, a snap shot from Smith was well saved by Gill. In the 76th minute, Allsopp saved Brocton. Wilson fed Bowater down the right. His cross was then met at the far post by Wilson and his header was brilliantly saved by Allsopp with his legs. Brocton continued to push for a winner. A cross from Osborne was headed over by Weldon, who was back pedalling as the ball reached him. Brocton took the lead in the 81st minute. Blanchette skipped a challenge and played the ball into the path of Whieldon who took aim and found the bottom corner. Two minutes later, Smith created space and was just too high with his shot. Smith was not to be denied, and he sealed Brocton’s comeback three minutes into time added on. Whieldon played the ball into Smith, who turned and hit a rocket of a shot into the roof of the net.
Full-time: Brocton 3 Stone Old Alleynians 1 Attendance:191
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Adam Weldon, Dan Evans (Lucas Green-Birch 71), Kenny Devoir (Cam Osborne 62), Tom Vaughan, Charlie King, Will Whieldon (Jude King 90+4), Ben Haddaway, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Christian Blanchette. Subs (Not Used); Ben Hackett, Morgan Payne
Stone Old Alleynians: Raj Gill, Sam Minshall (Harry Minshall 88), Jonah Kampos Green, Tom Thorley, Luke Askey, Matt Thomas, Sam Bowater (Oliver Griffiths 83), Josh Goodwin (Kacper Mikulski 83), Jack Tomlinson, Sam Wilson, Jack Van Der Laan. Subs (Not Used): Henry Brereton, Charlie Batho
Yellow Cards: Vaughan (Brocton); Tomlinson (Stone)
Red Cards: Tomlinson (Stone – second yellow)
Comments