Saturday 15th April

North West Counties Football League First Division South

Ashville 2 Brocton 2

Brocton welcomed back Adam Weldon and Will Whieldon to the starting line-up and there was a place on the subs bench for Ben Haddaway. Ashville went into the game firmly in the middle of the table, an excellent first season at Step 6.

It was the home side that had the first attempt on goal, Sam Hughes hitting his shot straight at Tony Allsopp. Ashville should have opened the scoring in the second minute. Allsopp came out of his area, didn’t get the ball and Ben Greenop had an empty net to aim at but put it wide of the post. Greenop had another chance in the 6th minute, heading wide from a right wing corner. Brocton’s first attempt fell to Reg Smith when he controlled the ball and shot with one fluid movement, his effort wide of the goal. Brocton took the lead in the 13th minute. Excellent work by Morgan Payne down the left saw him pass inside to Will Whieldon. Whieldon took a touch and fired low into the bottom corner giving Michael Dixon no chance. The game turned in the 29th minute. Allsopp again raced off his line, misplaced his pass and when the ball was fired goalwards by Carl Murphy, Allsopp instinctively through up an arm to save. Unfortunately for the keeper, he was a long way outside his area and the referee had no alternative but to show him a red card. Brocton replaced Charlie King with Ben Haddaway who made his return as an emergency keeper. In the 38th minute, a shot on the turn by Smith was comfortably saved by Dixon. Ashville equalised in the 40th minute. A ball over the top of the Brocton defence by Dan Hardman, left Tom Vaughan back pedalling. Lewis Moynes latched onto the ball and sent a superb shot over Ben Haddaway and into the far corner. Brocton responded with a fine 25 yard effort from Connor Haddaway which was well saved by Dixon. In stoppage time, a shot from Whieldon took a deflection and was well saved again by Dixon. A shot from Smith was fumbled with no-one on hand to pick up the rebound. Smith then played a good ball into Christian Blanchette in space, but his close control let him down and the chance was lost.

Half-Time: Ashville 1 Brocton 1

Ashville again started the brighter with Hughes off target two minutes into the half. In the 52nd minute, Ben Haddaway saved well from Greenop. Blanchette won the ball down the right, but his cross was overhit and ran out of play. On the hour, Smith ran into the penalty area and forced a decent save from Dixon. From the corner, the ball was headed back into the box by Blanchette and Payne was on hand to volley home. Josh Maldon had an attempt on goal for Ashville which was blocked for a corner. Inn the 73rd minute, the home side were awarded a penalty when Ben Haddaway raced off his line and his mistimed challenge brought down Joe Dulson. The referee pointed to the spot and Maldon despatched the penalty off the inside of the left hand post. Both sides went in search of a winner, Smith seeing his shot turned behind for a corner. Ashville had a great chance in the 78th minute. Dulson played a lovely ball into the path of Moynes, and his shot was well saved by Ben Haddaway. The impressive Moynes then had a shot well blocked by Luke Haddaway. Jack Fradgley had the next chance for Ashville, volleying over at the far post. In the 84th minute, a point blank headed from Maldon was palmed away by the strong hand of Ben Haddaway. Smith had another shot saved by Dixon before Maldon was off target with a free kick in stoppage time. The whistle blew with the ten men of Brocton well and truly out on their feet.

Full-Time: Ashville 2 Brocton 2 Attendance:77

Ashville: Michael Dixon, Dan Hardman, Adam Sunners, Sam Hughes, Nathan Haynes, Max Williams, Lewis Moynes, Josh Maldon, Carl Murphy (Joe Dulson 59), Ben Greenop (Jack Fradgley 70), Sam Gostage. Subs (Not Used): James Kelly, Stephen McDermott, Shaun Farrall

Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Adam Weldon (Alex Curtis 85), Jake Triggs (Luke Haddaway 62), Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Will Whieldon (Lewis Rowley 90+2), Christian Blanchette (Sam Scott 69), Charlie King (Ben Haddaway 30), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Morgan Payne

Yellow Cards: Hardman, Maldon (Ashville); Whieldon (Brocton)

Red cards: Allsopp (Brocton)