Saturday 22nd March
Capelli Sports MFL Premier Division
OJM Black Country 0 Brocton 0
Brocton were forced into further changes due to injury with Jake Thomas and Christian Blanchette sidelined. Connor Haddaway returned after missing out last week. Jude King took Blanchette’s place down the left. Cooper Marsh took over in midfield from Thomas. OJM had won their last three games to remain with the slimmest of chances of making the play offs.
The initial stages were dominated by the awful surface at The Triplex Sports Association with no-one from either side, comfortable on the ball. It was nine minutes before we witnessed any attempt on goal. Casey Collins shooting on the turn for OJM, the ball being deflected behind for a corner. From the corner, Brian Smikle headed wide at the far post. Brocton’s first attack of note came in the 24th minute. Reg Smith played the ball into the path of Charlie King, and his shot was blocked. Brocton went close seconds later. Excellent control from Smith, saw him turn and shoot inches over the bar. At the other end, Tony Allsopp dropped a high free kick. The ball fell to Liam Spink and his shot was superbly blocked by the busy Charlie King. In the 29th minute, Will Whieldon played the ball out wide to Connor Haddaway. His cross was met by Smith with the header drifting wide. OJM wasted a good chance when Steven Leslie’s free kick was met by Collins, but his effort was wide. Brocton were inches away from the opener on 36 minutes. A free kick from Allsopp was perfectly into the path of Whieldon. His drive beat Tom Clapp but rebounded off the far post. Brocton stayed on the attack with Smith heading wide from another right wing cross.
Half-Time: OJM Black Country 0 Brocton 0
OJM had the first chance of the second half. Romehl Critchlow raced through, and his shot was well blocked by Kenny Devoir. The ball came back out to the right and the low ball in was gathered by Allsopp. Smith went on a strong run down the right, shaking off challenges from two defenders and his cross was inches too high for Jude King. In the 61st minute, Brocton were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Smith hit his shot which cannoned off the wall. Connor Haddaway took the corner, Devoir peeled off at the back post and his header was brilliantly saved by Clapp. In the 77th minute, Leslie hit a free kick from some 40 yards which Allsopp palmed away. Brocton were saved by the post 5 minutes later; Critchlow ran into space and his shot across Allsopp cannoned off the post. With three minutes left, a shot from Cam Osborne was adjudged to have taken a deflection. From the corner, Smith placed a shot towards the corner, and the giant Clapp made another wonderful save to turn it behind for a corner.
Full-Time: OJM Black Country 0 Brocton 0
OJM Black Country: Tom Clapp, Seb Pearsall, Steven Leslie, Liam Spink, Stefan Cameron, Callum Nimmo, Brian Smikle, Romehl Critchlow, Casey Collins (Louis Conway 81), Reece Morris, Jarrel Hylton (Michael Nelson 63). Subs (Not Used): Yannick Gomez, Marco Adaggio, Adam Keogh
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Jake Danan, Josh Simcox, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Charlie King (Lucas Green-Birch 83), Will Whieldon (Morgan Payne 74), Cooper Marsh, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Jude King (Cam Osborne 74). Subs (Not Used): Jake Triggs, Ben Haddaway
Yellow Cards: Collins (OJM), Charlie King (Brocton)
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