Saturday January 18th
Capelli Sport MFL Premier Division
Brocton 1 Romulus 3
Brocton were unchanged from the side that won away at Studley in their last league game. Kenny Devoir was playing his 350th game for Brocton, a remarkable achievement for any player in modern times. Romulus were on a poor run which had seen them slide down the table and were without a win since November.
Connor Haddaway tried his luck from just inside the Romulus half in the 4th minute, but his shot was gathered under the bar by Lewis Gwilliams. Romulus first attempt came from Tristan Bennett whose shot skimmed Tony Allsopp’s post. Brocton were looking the more dangerous going forward. In the 15th minute. Charlie King threaded a ball through the heart of the Romulus defence for Will Whieldon to run on to. Gwilliams rushed off his line and cleared downfield before Whieldon could reach it. In the 21st minute, Chris Uwabor cleared the bar for the visitors. Brocton were getting up a head of steam and Haddaway curled a shot goalward with Gwilliams making a good save. In the 23rd minute, Whieldon forced Gwilliams into another decent save. From the corner, taken by Haddaway, Lucas Green-Birch flashed a header wide. Gwilliams made a rare mistake in the 27th minute, fumbling a Haddaway corner which his defence hacked clear. In the 36th minute, a low free kick from Reece Nunn almost caught Allsopp out, as it went through legs in front of him. Brocton should have opened the scoring in the 38th minute. King picked out Christian Blanchette with a slide rule pass. Blanchette controlled the ball and shot at goal with Gwilliams saving with his legs. The ball came out to Whieldon and his shot was also saved by Gwilliams’ legs. In first half stoppage time, Reg Smith ran at the Romulus defence, played the ball inside to Blanchette and his shot was saved by Gwilliams. The ball came back to Blanchette, and he missed the target with the goal at his mercy. A minute later, Blanchette was through on goal but halted by a tremendous challenge from Joe Clarke.
Half-time: Brocton Romulus 0
Four minutes after the break, Smith spun his defender but overhit his pass to Haddaway. Against the run of play, Romulus took the lead in the 51st minute. Brocton failed to clear their lines and Maradoche Mipro placed a superb shot in the corner past Allsopp. The goal didn’t change the flow of the game as Brocton continued to stream forward. In the 54th minute, Whieldon cut in from the right and hit a left footed shot which Gwilliams turned aside with a full length save. A minute later, a hopeful cross from Josh Simcox evaded everyone and bounced off the top of the Romulus crossbar. Romulus were sensing more goals when they ventured forward and a good effort from Bennett was just over. On the hour mark, Smith teed up Haddaway, but his shot was well over the bar. A cross from Dan Evans was flicked goalwards by Blanchette with Gwilliams gathering underneath the bar. A driving run from King, saw the defence open in front of him and his shot was brilliantly saved by Gwilliams. Brocton were level in the 65th minute. A Haddaway corner was hooked back at the far post by Devoir, and Green-Birch was on hand to prod the ball home. Brocton should have made it two in the 71st minute, Morgan Payne and Blanchette played a one-two to open the defence. Payne was in space, in front of goal but his shot somehow went the wrong side of the post. Back came Romulus and George Elwell shaved the post with an effort. Romulus were indebted to Gwilliams again in the 74th minute, when yet again he made an excellent save to thwart Whieldon. With ten minutes left, Mipro wasted a great chance for Romulus, heading wide when he should have at least forced Allsopp to make a save. Two minutes into stoppage time, Romulus took the lead. A scramble in the Brocton box saw the home side fail to clear their lines and when the ball was played into Tyree Sanusi, the substitute was on hand to tap the ball home. A minute later, it was game up for Brocton. Romulus broke quickly. Isia Marselia shrugged off a challenge, passed to the unmarked Sanusi who finished with aplomb. When you thought it could not get worse for Brocton, Charlie King was shown a straight red card for a poor challenge in the middle of the park. Romulus easily ran down the nine minutes of added time to put a dent in Brocton’s play off challenge.
Full-Time: Brocton 1 Romulus 3 Attendance:169
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Josh Simcox (Cooper Marsh 59), Dan Evans, Kenny Devoir (Jude King 84), Tom Vaughan, Charlie King, Will Whieldon, Lucas Green-Birch (Morgan Payne 69), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Christian Blanchette. Subs (Not Used): Liam Prendergast, Cam Osborne
Romulus: Lewis Gwilliams, Jordan Francis, Dan Okojie (Louis Lake 57), McLoyd Oben, Ethan Green, Joe Clarke, Reece Nunn (George Elwell 70), Maradoche Mipro, Chris Uwabor (Tyree Sanusi 90), Sean Devlin (Rob Hanna 84), Tristan Bennett (Isia Marselia 84)
Yellow Cards: Devoir, Smith, Haddaway (Brocton); Francis, Clarke, Bennett (Romulus)
Red Card: Charlie King (Brocton)
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