Wednesday 18th September 2024
Brocton u18s v Pershore Town u18s
FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round
After victory in the previous round against Malvern Town, the young Badgers were drawn at home against Worcestershire side, Pershore Town.
It was a fast start from the home side, creating a flurry of early chances inside the opening ten minutes. A clearance from captain Cooper Marsh looped over the heads of the Pershore defence and set Jude King through one on one, but his shot was saved easily by Thomas King – Pershore then went straight up the other end with a chance from the right hand side, but it was saved easily by Will Webb. The game would settle down and began to occupy the centre of the pitch, both sides giving as good as they got, and early signs showed this game could potentially go to penalties as it did in the previous round. A counter attack from Pershore through a cross-field ball found Callum Jenkinson but once again the shot was saved by Webb. Brocton continued to have many half-chances, just struggling with that final pass or overcomplicating things at the end of a move; their best chance would come from some great passing play, ending with a shot from range from Liam Prendergast but it was pushed wide and out for a corner, but promising signs as the young Badgers obviously have taken influence from the first team. The game continued to be scrappy and hotly contested, but the half time whistle would blow as the game stayed goalless going into the break.
HT: Brocton 0-0 Pershore Town
After a tough battle between James Thomas and Prendergast during the first half down the right wing, Prendergast swapped wings going into the second half. Striker Jude King found himself running at the opposition goal once again, but his shot was once again saved as he began to become more frustrated with himself as the half went on. An attempted bicycle kick from Leighton Warren after a free kick was lofted into the Brocton box, rolled straight into the grasp of Webb – a very evenly contested match. Just before the hour mark, Brocton won a free kick on the edge of the Pershore box after King cut inside and a dangling leg from Thomas brought him down and the referee was obliged to book him. Play was stopped though and both sets of players were taken off the pitch, as behind the goal a supporter slipped and fell, delaying the restart while she was given aid. Fortunately, everything was okay, and play was able to resume, with Rafael Torchalla’s audacious free-kick attempt, going low and under the wall but unfortunately dragging it just wide of the post. Ten minutes later, a Brocton throw in by the opposition corner flag would find King who cut inside into the penalty area and another dangling leg would bring the striker down and the referee pointed to the penalty spot – substitute Archie Saunders stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom right to finally break the deadlock. 1-0. It wouldn’t be long until the score would be doubled after a ball in from Torchalla bounced around, eventually falling to Saunders once again who slotted the ball into the opposite corner in which he scored his first, giving Brocton a two goal advantage and one foot into the next round of the FA Youth Cup. 2-0. Changes from both sides had really been the game-changer, Brocton’s changes really allowed them to push on while Pershore struggled. A lot of injury time was added after stoppages throughout for injuries; bizarrely, a pass back to goalkeeper Will Webb was picked up and the referee blew for an indirect free kick a few yards out. The entire Brocton team lined up on the goal-line, as the free-kick was laid off, the wall came rushing out and blocked the shot to cheers from around Silkmore Lane. Deep into the one-hundredth minute, Pershore substitute Jonty Scott kicked out off the ball at one of the Brocton defenders, causing some fisty cuffs that needed to be separated by both sets of players – surprisingly, the referee chose not the send the player off, and only gave him a booking. Not long after the final whistle would finally blow on a great evening for the young Badgers, which would send them into the next round of the cup.
FT: Brocton 2-0 Pershore Town
Brocton: Will Webb, Eddie Hobbs, Theo Reid, Leo Yates, Cooper Marsh (C) (Matt Tuck 86), Henry Smith (Alfie Hancock 80), Liam Prendergast (Jackson Knight 80), Rafael Torchalla, Jude King, Darragh O’Connor (Riley Harvey 90+1), Tyler Draper (Archie Saunders 65)
Pershore Town: Thomas King, Ethan Bowley, Charlie Barker (Alfie Elliott-Smith 72), James Thomas (Max Barker 62), Max Pinches (C) (Justin Burton 76), William Hicks (Jonty Scott 54), Lewis Martin, Leighton Warren, Joshua Nharo (Joseph Ruff 72), Jack Porter, Callum Jenkinson
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