Tuesday 16th August
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Brocton 3 Cheadle Heath Nomads 1
Brocton were looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at Wythenshawe on Saturday and welcomed Cam Jackson to the squad for the first time this season. Visitors Cheadle Heath were searching for their first win of the campaign.
It was Cheadle Heath that made the perfect start to the game taking the lead in the 4th minute. A free kick from the right was met perfectly by the head of Jack Taylor and the ball flew into the top corner giving Tony Allsopp no chance. Cheadle Heath were the dominant side in the early stages. A through ball from Josh Tinker gave Lewis McKinney the chance to run onto it however Allsopp was alert to the situation, raced off his line and kicked the ball to safety. Brocton’s first chance came courtesy of a cross from Connor Haddaway which was headed over by Christian Blanchette. Brocton were gradually establishing a foothold and Tom Vaughan headed wide from a Connor Haddaway corner. Brocton really should have equalised in the 26th minute. A delightful cross from Connor Haddaway picked out the unmarked Morgan Payne but his header was off target. Brocton weren’t to be denied and the equaliser came on the half-hour mark. Vaughan threaded an inch-perfect pass into the path of Cam Osborne, who slid the ball past the advancing Cheadle Heath keeper, Alex Fowell. The early part of the game was now forgotten as Brocton pressed for more goals. Blanchette skimmed the bar with an effort with Fowell expecting a cross. Cheadle Heath somehow survived in the 37th minute as chances fell for Connor Haddaway, Payne and Luke Haddaway before the ball was scrambled to safety. Four minutes later, the crowd was celebrating a peach of a goal only for the linesman’s flag ruling it out for offside. Connor Haddaway’s free kick volleyed emphatically past Fowell by Reg Smith. Within 30 seconds, Brocton should have taken the lead. Osborne raced clear but delayed his shot allowing Fowell to make a fine save.
Half-Time: Brocton 1 Cheadle Heath Nomads 1
Cheadle Heath had the first effort of the second half, a shot from Sam Unwin deflecting for a corner. Blanchette was causing havoc down the Brocton right, and after he was sent clear by Connor Haddaway, his cross was well cut-out by the Cheadle Heath defence. Brocton took a deserved lead in the 54th minute. Man of the match Connor Haddaway hit a dangerous ball into the area which Ayomide Ibrahim failed to deal with. Smith took full advantage, picking his spot and hammering the ball past Fowell. Brocton continued on the front foot and a direct run from Smith ended with a corner conceded from a low cross. Brocton made it three in the 57th minute and it was goal of the highest quality. Blanchette played the ball down the right hand touchline. Smith, not for the first time, outpaced the defender and pulled the ball back perfectly into the path of Payne, who made no mistake for his first competitive goal for the club. Osborne was the next to try his luck, cutting inside from the left and finding the side-netting with his shot. Cheadle Heath made a rare foray forward and excellent control from Arek Pociask created space, but his shot was off target. Brocton substitute Will Finlay made an immediate impression, Smith teeing him up and his shot forcing a fine save from Fowell. In the 83rd minute, Finlay fired the ball across the goal with no Brocton forward on hand to tap it home. In the 88th minute, Smith & Finlay combined with the latter having another shot saved by the keeper. In stoppage time, Finlay turned provide for Smith, but his finish was un-Smith like and well off target. Three minutes into time added on, Smith again lit up Silkmore Lane, A direct run, turning defenders inside and out finished with a shot that beat Fowell but rebounded off the post. Final action of the game was in the Brocton penalty area with Adam Weldon making the tackle of the game to deny Cheadle Heath a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Full-Time: Brocton 3 Cheadle Heath Nomads 1 Attendance:108
Brocton: Tony Allsopp; Luke Haddaway (Jack Bostock 87), Adam Weldon, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Morgan Payne (Charlie King 75), Christian Blanchette (Will Finlay 75), Jake Thomas, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Cam Osborne (Cam Jackson 85). Sub (Not Used): Jake Triggs
Cheadle Heath Nomads: Alexander Fowell, Robert Wallis (Sam Derring 60), Jake Wright, Joshue Tinker, Ayomide Ibrahim, Jack Taylor (Reece Skelton 71), Lewis McKinney, Jordan Milne, Arek Pociask, Ryan Shinton, Samual Unwin. Subs (Not Used): Craig Coates, Morgan Piper, Lee Constantine
Yellow Cards: Thomas (Brocton)
