Tuesday 22nd March
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Alsager Town 1 Brocton 3
Brocton made two changes from the side beaten at home by Barnton on Saturday. Luke Haddaway and Jack Bostock came in at full back to replace the unavailable Adam Weldon and Dan Evans. Alsager Town came into the game in a straight battle with Rocester to avoid finishing second bottom and face possible relegation.
It was the home side that created the first opening inside two minutes. An excellent through ball from Dominic Barnes picked out the run of Connor Comber but his shot was well over the bar. Brocton were inches away from the opener in the fourth minute when Kenny Devoir’s header from an Alex Curtis corner was just over the bar. Within a minute, Tony Allsopp was forced into a fine save to thwart Travis Boyles after he was set up by a lay off from Comber. Curtis forced a good save from Abidan Edwards with his goal bound volley tipped aside. Curtis wasn’t to be denied and he gave Brocton the lead in the 10th minute. A long ball forward was flicked on by Reg Smith, Curtis latched onto the pass and volleyed into the roof of the net. Back came Alsager and Comber cleared the bar from a Boyles cross. The home side were level in the 12th minute. A clearance from Devoir cannoned off Boyles and found its way past Allsopp. Comber had a chance to give Alsager the lead, racing through the middle of the Brocton defence but volleying over the bar. The end to end nature of the game continued with Brad Rolston’s shot on goal blocked by a defender. On 15 minutes, appeals for a Brocton penalty, after Rolston went down under a challenge from Jonathan Anderson Ogbomo, were waved away. Brocton went close again in the 23rd minute. A cross from Rolston was headed on by Jake Thomas, and Smith couldn’t quite stretch to convert at the far post. Both defences were being stretched by the pace of the respective forward lines and it was a surprise to go in to the break with just the two goals.
Half-Time: Alsager Town 1 Brocton 1
Brocton started the second half strongly and Ben Haddaway was unfortunate when his 20 yard drive rebounded off the post to safety. Brocton took the lead in the 56th minute. Another ball through from Smith, found Curtis in the inside left position and his low shot was perfectly placed into the corner. Curtis was causing the Alsager defence all sorts of problems and another shot from distance was just wide. The impressive Boyles was an equal threat for the home side, and a surging run ended with a weak shot which was comfortable for Allsopp. Boyles created another chance for Comber but again, the forward’s finishing was poor, and the shot sailed over the bar. Brocton went close again in the 70th minute when Curtis’ deep cross was headed back into the box by Rolston and Smith couldn’t keep his header down. Another chance went begging when Tom Vaughan connected with a Connor Haddaway free0kcik only to see his header sail over the bar. Alsager should have levelled the score with five minutes remaining. A rare mistake by Vaughan gave the ball to Adam Lawrence. With only Allsopp to beat, the Alsager skipper lifted the ball over the Brocton keeper and the crossbar. Alsager were made to pay when Brocton made it three two minutes later. Will Finlay robbed a defender, threaded the ball through to Smith and his finish was emphatic. Allsopp had to make one more save when the ball ricocheted around the penalty area, and he saved with his feet at the far post.
Full-Time: Alsager Town 1 Brocton 3 Attendance:87
Alsager Town: Abidan Edwards, Joshua Odukomaya (Paul Jamieson 75), Jonathan Anderson Ogbomo, Kane Lewis (William Aldred 76), Adam Lawrence, Dominic Barnes, Travis Boyles, Olly Wright (Maysan Benarbia), Jack Price, Connor Comber, Sam Latham. Subs (Not used): Oliver Pope, Jake Thurston
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Luke Haddaway, Jack Bostock, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Ben Haddaway, Alex Curtis (Cam Jackson 75), Jake Thomas, Reg Smith (Ethan Harris 90+1), Connor Haddaway, Brad Rolston (Will Finlay 81). Subs (Not Used) Jake Triggs
Yellow Cards: Lawrence, Comber (Alsager Town)
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