Back on the winning trail as Badgers beat the Robins

Saturday 1^st November

Capelli Sport MFL Premier

Brocton 3 Dudley Town 1

Brocton played host to Dudley Town in the reverse fixture of last week’s meeting, where Dudley edged the game 2-1. Dudley came into the game in fine form, having won all their last five games, albeit none of them coming away from home. Brocton looked to return to winning ways for the first time in four. 

It was Brocton that took the initiative first, and they should have taken the lead six minutes in. Brocton captain Connor Haddaway set the ball for Charlie King, who saw his shot saved by Tom Carter in the Dudley net, and his brother, Jude, also had his shot saved on the rebound. The subsequent chance fell again to Charlie King, who somehow shot over from close range. Both sides began to cancel each other out, perhaps a consequence of last week’s fixture. Brocton remained on top and saw numerous chances fly off target, most notably with Josh Simcox cutting in from the left and curling wide. However, Dudley took the lead against the run of play. Tom Owen floated an inch perfect ball into the stride of Matt Funge, who confidently took the ball down and rounded Jack Sandel, leaving him with the easiest of finishes.

Half-Time: Brocton 0 Dudley Town 1

The rain began to lash down at half time, which made it difficult for the players early in the second half, with players slipping in crucial areas. Charlie King fell foul to the greasy surface, as he slipped and consequentially over stretched, forcing his removal from the game. Brocton momentarily thought they had found the equaliser, but the assistant ruled the ball had gone out of play before Jake Thomas lashed home. However, it didn’t take long for the home side to draw level: Ben Haddaway neatly jinked past a defender on the right wing, before delivering a perfect cross for makeshift striker Christian Blanchette to head home. Blanchette doubled his and Brocton’s tally only five minutes later, as some sharp Brocton interplay allowed Dylan Millington to get to the byline. He cut the ball back into the centre, giving Blanchette the easiest of tap ins. Millington again caused problems for Dudley, when, only four minutes later, he picked the ball up on the halfway line and drove at the Dudley defence. He set the ball to Conor Haddaway, who placed his shot off the right post and in. Dudley began to commit more men forward in the closing stages, but never created anything clear cut, allowing Brocton to see out a crucial win.

Full-Time: Brocton 3 Dudley Town 1 Attendance: 201

Brocton: Jack Sandel, Levi Reid (Dylan Millington 70), Josh Simcox (Cooper Marsh 70), Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Charlie King (Morgan Payne 48), Ben Haddaway, Christian Blanchette, Jake Thomas, Connor Haddaway, Jude King. Subs (Not Used) Jake Danan, Cam Osborne

Dudley Town: Tom Carter, Dan Jones, Tom Owen, Kris Taylor, Lewis Riley-Stewart, Luke Hennessey, Ryan Snape, Joey Buckley (Lewis Mitchell), Matt Funge, Kyle Moseley (Ethan Muckley), Harry Crook. Subs (Not Used) Joe Colley, Jamie Beddall, Dan Okojie

Yellow Cards: Simcox, Devoir, B Haddaway (Brocton); Jones, Crook, Muckley (Dudley Town)