Wulfs gain revenge

Saturday 15th February

Capelli Sport MFL Premier Division

AFC Wulfrunians 5 Brocton 1

Brocton made one change from the side that beat Tividale 8-3 last weekend. Morgan Payne replaced the unavailable Will Whieldon. AFC Wulfrunians had slipped down the table in recent weeks after a run of five straight games against sides chasing a play-off spot.

The opening exchanges were a midfield battle with Wulfs not giving Brocton any space to play. In the 14th minute, Hayden Seymour shot from the left and Kenny Devoir did well to clear off the line. A minute later and the home side could not believe they had not opened the scoring. A shot from Ryan Bright was well saved by Tony Allsopp. From the resulting corner, Jake Lloyd’s header was well saved by Allsopp. Bright hit the follow up and Tom Vaughan somehow cleared off the line. It was the home side asking all the questions and Kie Houlihan hit a shot straight at Allsopp. In the 21st minute the home side deservedly took the lead. Brocton failed to clear their lines and Houlihan hit a superb shot, over Allsopp and in off the crossbar. Brocton claimed a penalty in the 23rd minute when Christian Blanchette went down under a challenge from Sam Arnold. The referee waved away the appeals with Wulfs asking for a card for simulation for Blanchette. A low ball in from Jake Webb was cut out by Allsopp as Wulfs searched for a second. Tom Poole was next to try his luck, his shot at the near post again straight at Allsopp. Brocton’s first attempt at goal in the 31st minute saw Reg Smith’s effort blocked for a corner. Smith tried his luck from further out, with his drive clearing the bar. A shot from Blanchette bounced in front of Sam Arnold with the Wulfs keeper making a meal of his save. Poole wriggled into the area and was stopped by an excellent challenge from Morgan Payne. A minute before the break, Brocton levelled very much against the run of play. Connor Haddaway picked out the run of Payne and his cross to the far post, was headed home by Blanchette. Brocton gifted Wulfs a second, a minute into time added on. A poor free kick from Allsopp played Josh Simcox into trouble. His attempted clearance was charged down by Houlihan, who lifted the loose ball over Allsopp into the net.

Half-time: AFC Wulfrunians 2 Brocton 1

Brocton began the second half on the front foot. In the 52nd minute, Reg Smith hit a low free kick under the wall, and it cannoned into the post and bounced clear. A minute later, a shot from Webb flew across the Brocton goal. Arnold did well to take the ball off the foot of Reg Smith after a good ball in from Ben Haddaway. Wulfrunians increased their lead in the 58th minute. A free kick from the right was headed goalwards. Allsopp made the save but could only knock the ball into the path of Lloyd who tapped home. Simcox tried a speculative effort which was well wide. As much as Brocton tried, they made no impression on the home side who looked increasingly comfortable as the game progressed. In the 72nd minute, a cross from Webb screwed off the outside of Vaughan’s boot for a corner. The corner caused panic in the Brocton defence and Cam Osborne cleared the ball off the line as the shot came in. Wulfs pulled further away with a fourth goal in the 73rd minute. Another goalmouth scramble saw Brocton fail to clear their lines and Ryan Bright muscled the ball over the line. An excellent ball from Reg Smith picked out Osborne on the left and his shot was saved by Arnold. Wulfrunians made it five in the 80th minute. Nana Owusu-Gyimah picked his spot and curled a shot goalwards. Allsopp had it covered but the ball went through the keeper’s hands and into the net. Into stoppage time. Blanchette had a shot blocked by Brad Lawley. Brocton continued to be the creator of their own problems. A crossfield ball by Connor Haddaway was cut out by Webb and Brocton were grateful for the block from Lucas Green-Birch. Craig Tuckley hit a shot straight at Allsopp. The last action of the game was in the Wulfrunians box as a clearance hit a Wulfs defender and Arnold made a decent save.

Full-Time: AFC Wulfrunians 5 Brocton 1

AFC Wulfrunians: Sam Arnold, Tom Poole, Hayden Seymour, Angelo Franco (Brad Lawley 68), Zacharias Kourouyianni, Jake Lloyd, Jake Webb, Curtis Cocking (Joel Omorodion 87), Jay Holdcroft (Kofi Williams 79), Kie Houlihan (Craig Tuckley 68), Ryan Bright (Nana Owusu-Gyimah)

Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Cooper Marsh (Dan Evans 59), Josh Simcox (Cam Osborne 71), Kenny Devoir (Jude King 59), Tom Vaughan, Ben Haddaway, Morgan Payne (Lucas Green-Birch 59), Jake Thomas (Toby Smith 76), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Christian Blanchette

Yellow Cards: Arnold, Poole, Tuckley (AFC Wulfrunians); Ben Haddaway, Reg Smith (Brocton)