A bright start led to the Badgers taking the lead, but a penalty in the first half and 3 in the second saw Town take all 3 derby points.
Tuesday 28th September
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Stafford Town 4 Brocton 1 at Evans Park
Brocton manager Kevin Weldon shuffled the pack and formation as he tried to arrest the recent run of poor results. Town included six former Badgers in their starting line-up.
The first opening of the game fell to Stafford with Ryan Taylor looking likely to be in on goal until he was stopped by Adam Weldon with a fine challenge. Dean Williams crossed from the Brocton right, but Joe Morris was equal to it and gathered well. Stafford wasted an opportunity in the 8th minute when Josh Wilson headed Taylor’s cross away from goal. The speedy Josh Oultram ran past Keiren Nelson and Jamie Weldon before forcing a save from Corey Mallen. Brocton had chances of their own on the quarter hour mark. Cameron Osborne’s shot was blocked with Jake Thomas’ follow up saved by Morris. From the resulting Williams corner, Jamie Weldon headed over the bar. Brocton were the more positive of the two sides and Chris Anderson made a fine defensive header to deny Osborne. Brocton took the lead in the 23rd minute when Williams fired into the corner from the left hand side of the penalty area. Stafford went close to an equalizer in the 28th minute when Nathan Scott fizzed a ball across the goalmouth. Brocton continued to ask questions of the Stafford defence, A cross from Nelson was just too high for Thomas and Thomas then took a shot from distance which cleared the crossbar. In the 43rd minute, Ryan Douglas headed off the line as a Stafford corner was headed goalwards. The game was turned on it’s head as the referee pointed to the spot for a high boot with players on both sides somewhat nonplussed by the decision. Ben Douglas needed no second invitation to score against his former club and the penalty was despatched with aplomb.
Half-Time: Stafford Town 1 Brocton 1
The turnaround was complete for Stafford three minutes into the second half. A cross from the left from Taylor was headed home, with the faintest of touches, by Ben Douglas. Stafford sensed the game was there for the taking. Charlie Swingwood headed wide from a Wilson corner. Stafford should have had a second penalty in the 58th minute when Wilson was tripped just inside the area by Josh Mousley. The referee, given no help by his linesman, awarded a free-kick just outside the are which Wilson duly wasted. Stafford’s third goal came on the hour. The Brocton defence again failed to clear the ball and, when the ball arrived at his feet, Oultram fired low into the corner giving Mallen no chance. Brocton went close themselves with Ben Haddaway firing across the face of the goal. Stafford continued to push for goals and Mallen made a point blanks save to stop Morgan Payne’s close range volley. The inevitable fourth goal arrived in the 75th minute. Yet again, the Brocton defence failed to clear their lines and Payne hammered the ball into the net via two deflections. Brocton missed a glorious chance to reduce the deficit in the 82nd minute. A free-kick into the penalty area fell to Nelson, a couple of yards out, but he put his effort over the bar. With two minutes left, a cross from Cam Jackson was controlled by Adam Weldon who volleyed over with his second touch. In stoppage time, Taylor almost capped his excellent performance with a goal, but his effort skimmed the bar leaving Stafford to celebrate their derby victory.
Full-Time: Stafford Town 4 Brocton 1
Attendance:109
Stafford Town: Joe Morris, Chris Anderson, Ben Douglas, Ben Wood, Henry Smith (Lewis Till 75), Josh Wilson, Nathan Scott, Charlie Swingwood, Josh Oultram (Kaysan Al Salih 79), Sean Kinsella (Morgan Payne 66), Ryan Taylor. Subs (Not Used): Jack Stafford, Tom Duffy
Brocton@ Corey Mallen, Adam Weldon, Jamie Weldon, Keiren nelson, Josh Mousley, Dan Evans, Ben Haddaway (Todd Pryor 75), Jake Thomas, Dean Williams (Brad Rolston 57), Cameron Osborne, Ryan Douglas (Cam Jacks0n 68). Subs (Not Used): Kenny Devoir, Malaki Norford
Sin Bin: Adam Weldon (Brocton)
Yellow Cards: Anderson, Douglas, Taylor (Stafford Town), Nelson, Williams (Brocton)
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