Saturday 25th January
Capelli Sport MFL Premier Division
1874 Northwich 0 Brocton 4
Brocton travelled to Cheshire for a top of the table clash with 1874 Northwich. 1874 sat in 4th place just three points behind Brocton with two games in hand. Like Brocton, it was their away form which had maintained a play off position. Brocton made two changes from the side that lost at home to Romulus. Cooper Marsh replaced the suspended Charlie King, and with Lucas Green-Birch delayed on his way to the ground, Morgan Payne came in for his first start for since August.
Brocton started quickly with Will Whieldon beating Owen Harrison on the right, his shot comfortably saved by Mike Shorthouse. Good control from Reg Smith sent Christian Blanchette clear but the linesman flagged him offside. 1874’s first chance came in the 9th minute. A cross from John McGrath on the left was headed wide by Lucas Weir. A minute later, a free kick from Connor Haddaway picked out Smith and his shot was saved by Shorthouse. Brocton took the lead in the 13th minute. Whieldon again beat Harrison and played the ball inside. Mark Jones made a mistake, losing control of the ball. Smith grabbed his chance and hammered the ball into the bottom corner. 1874 could have been level inside 60 seconds. Liam Fitzpatrick was found in space, but he was caught in two minds, not knowing whether to cross or shoot, and in the end, he did neither and the chance was gone. Brocton were causing the 1874 defence all sorts of trouble and Shorthouse did well to save a snap shot from Smith. In the 21st minute, Whieldon robbed Harrison and tried his luck from 40 yards, it was easily gathered by Shorthouse. Whieldon was having a field day down the right, and, when he was set up by Connor Haddaway his shot was blocked by the 1874 defence. In the 24th minute, a free kick from Smith was straight at the keeper. Shorthouse was beaten a minute later when Connor Haddaway picked out Payne and his shot came back off the post. Brocton were not to be denied, and they doubled their lead in the 26th minute. A corner from Connor Haddaway was met by Blanchette at the near post and his header beat the keeper. Whieldon and Connor Haddaway combined down the right with Whieldon’s cross gathered underneath the crossbar. On a rare foray forward, Jackson Coppack saw his shot deflected wide off one of his 1874 colleagues. Brocton made it three in the 33rd minute. A fast break down the left saw Payne play the ball inside to Smith and the league’s leading scorer finished clinically. 1874 made no impression on the Brocton back line as the visitors went into the break three goals to the good.
Half time: 1874 Northwich 0 Brocton 3
1874 introduced former Stafford Town striker Josh Oultram at half time but it was a rampant Brocton who increased their lead three minutes into the half. Another corner from Connor Haddaway was knocked back into the area at the far post by Kenny Devoir. Blanchette reacted quicker than anyone else and headed the ball into the 1874 net. Brocton did not settle on the lead. In the 51st minute, Smith hooked the ball forward for Payne, but his lob was high over the bar. The woodwork saved 1874 again in the 55th minute. An excellent lay-off from Blanchette was perfectly weighted for Smith and his rocket of a shot rebounded off the foot of the post. Connor Haddaway couldn’t quite control the rebound to force it home. 1874 wasted a glorious chance in the 62nd minute. An excellent through ball from Chris McCann was into the path of Eden Bailey. Tony Allsopp raced off his line, Bailey played it past him and past the post. Brocton continued to push for more and Smith volleyed wide from a good ball forward by Connor Haddaway. Into stoppage time, Brocton had a chance to make it five. Green-Birch raced into the area and chose to pass rather than shoot and the ball was behind King, and the chance went begging. This was a minor blip on a superb afternoon for Brocton.
Full-Time: 1874 Northwich 0 Brocton 4 Attendance:231
1874 Northwich: Mike Shorthouse, Niall Osborne, Owen Harrison (Josh Oultram 45), Matty Fenton, Mark Jones, Tom Morris, John McGrath (Theo Flanaghan 69), Lucas Weir (Ben Guest 59), Eden Bailey (Joel Jones 69), Jacson Coppack (Chris McCann 59), Liam Fitzpatrick
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Josh Simcox, Dan Evans, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Cooper Marsh (Lucas Green-Birch 77), Will Whieldon (Jake Thomas 87), Christian Blanchette (Jude King 86), Reg Smith (Cam Osborne 80), Connor Haddaway, Morgan Payne (Ben Haddaway 54)
Yellow Cards: Bailey (1874 Northwich)
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