Saturday March 23rd

North West Counties Football League First Division South

Maine Road 0 Brocton 3

Brocton made one change from the side that won at Stockport Georgians. Matty Bestall replaced Josh Simcox in the starting line-up. There was a place on the subs bench for Lucas Green-Birch on his return from suspension. Maine Road started the game in sixth place, 5 points outside the play-off places.

There was a nasty incident in the first minute of the game. Oscar Campbell challenged Reg Smith in the air with a clear elbow in the back of the head. Smith required treatment and the game restarted with a throw in. In the 5th minute, an interception by Thomas Ingram sent the ball towards his own goal but he shepherded it out for a corner. Brocton were having a lot of early possession. In the 8th minute, an excellent cross from Adam Weldon was well cut out by the Maine Road defence. A deep cross from the left from Morgan Payne almost picked out Weldon at the far post. In the 13th minute, a good cross from Jean-Jacques Kironozi was well cut out by Kenny Devoir. Within a minute, Brocton had the ball in the net. Maine Road keeper Oliver Brookbank collided with his own defender. The ball fell to Will Whieldon who placed the ball into the net only for the official to deem that there had been a player in an offside position. Midway through the half, a stray back pass saw Smith nip in, in front of Brookbank but the ball ran away for a goal kick. Brocton should have taken the lead in the 31st minute. A free kick from Connor Haddaway was headed wide by Smith, with the goal at his mercy. Brocton deservedly took the lead in the 34th minute. Charlie King threaded a pass down the near touchline to Connor Haddaway. The skipper drove to the by-line and his cross was controlled and superbly converted by Smith. Maine Road came close to an equaliser in the 37th minute. A cross from Louis Edwards from the left was headed goalwards by Tommy Duffy with Tony Allsopp saving well, despite an offside flag. Brocton doubled their lead a minute later. A poor defensive clearance fell invitingly for Payne who volleyed home his 30th goal of the season. Payne was hungry for more and his shot a few minutes later was comfortably saved by Brookbank. In the 42nd minute, Whieldon saw a shot deflected over the cross bar as Brocton finished the half well on top.

Half Time: Maine Road 0 Brocton 2

Brocton went close to a third, three minutes into the second half. Tom Vaughan threaded the ball through to Whieldon. He controlled the ball, took it past the defender but cleared the bar with his effort. Four minutes later, a free kick from Smith flashed inches wide. Brocton went close again in the 57th minute. A corner from Connor Haddaway was met by the head of Ben Haddaway and the ball rebounded off the post to safety. Maine Road began to have more of a say. A run from Campbell ended with a shot off target. Maine Road went close in the 68th minute. Ben Mooney ghosted into the area and his volley beat Allsopp and hit the angle of post and bar. Kironozi found space but his shot was straight at Allsopp. In the 82nd minute, a quick break from the home side saw Allsopp save well from Declan Hacking. Two minutes later, Brocton went close to extending their lead. First Cam Osborne had a shot blocked for a corner. The ball came out to Green-Birch, and his shot was well blocked by the Maine Road defence. Maine Road continued to push for a goal. With three minutes of normal time remaining, Mohammed Samb hit a wild shot which was way over the bar. Excellent approach play from Brocton saw Christian Blanchette and Green-Birch exchange passes with the latter off target by inches. Osborne then hit a snap shot wide as Brocton tried to clinch all three points. They duly put the game to bed, five minutes into stoppage time. Blanchette fired across the keeper into the opposite corner for his first goal back since his horrific injury in December. A minute later, Samb was again wildly over the bar and Brocton saw out the eight minutes of stoppage time for a valuable victory.

Full Time: Maine Rod 0 Brocton 3  Attendance:64

Maine Road: Oliver Brookbank, Jake Pogson (Jack Wray 47), Thomas Ingram, Oscar Campbell, Louis Edwards, James Perry, Jean-Jacques Kironozi (Youssef Belattar), Ben Mooney, Reece Lyndon (Mohammed Samb 45), Tommy Duffy (Declan Hacking 64), Yousif Yousif. Sub (Not Used): Tyler Devlin

Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Adam Weldon, Matty Bestall (Josh Simcox 66), Kenny Devoir (Jake Thomas 63), Tom Vaughan, Ben Haddaway (Lucas Green-Birch 74), Will Whieldon (Cam Osborne 83), Charlie King, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Morgan Payne (Christin Blanchette 74)

Yellow Cards: Ingram (Maine Road); Devoir, Simcox (Brocton)

Sin Bin: Yousif Yousif (Maine Road)