Tuesday 29th March 2022
The Macron Cup 2nd Round
Brocton 5 Alsager Town 0
Brocton made five changes from the side that lost at Rocester on Saturday. Ethan Harris and Will Finlay both made their first starts and there were recalls for Adam Weldon, Christian Blanchette and Cam Jackson. Alsager were also much changed from the side that were beaten by Brocton seven days ago with no less than six changes to the starting line-up.
Brocton were quickly in the ascendancy. Inside four minutes, a chance opened up for Blanchette, but he missed the ball completely and the chance went begging. A minute later, Jake Thomas couldn’t get the best of connections to a volley and the ball ran through to Ashley Hall in the Alsager goal. Finlay was inches away from his first Brocton goal, cutting inside from the left and unleashing a fierce shot which hit the inside of the post. The rebound hit Connor Haddaway and Hall was able to gather. Brocton opened the scoring in the 7th minute. Finlay again beat his defender on the left, cut the ball inside to Connor Haddaway and his side footed effort was placed into the corner. Two minutes later, Hall fumbled a shot from Thomas with the keeper gathering the ball at the second attempt as Blanchette pounced for the rebound. Brocton continued to dominate with Thomas having a header cleared off the line following a Connor Haddaway corner. The first fleeting opportunity for Alsager came in the 11tth minute with Kenny Devoir beating Jack Price to the ball and clearing the threat. Dominic Barnes picked up the ball in his own half for the visitors, drove forward with purpose but the attack broke down as he attempted to play in Jonathan Anderson Ogbomo. In the 27th minute, a free-kick from Olly Wright was turned over Tony Allsopp’s crossbar by Ogbomo. Allsopp was forced into action two minutes later, racing off his line to stop Price. Alsager were having a decent spell and when Ogbomo robbed Allsopp, Maysan Benarbia had sight of an open goal, but his shot was wide. Brocton were close to number two in the 36th minute. A long throw was not cleared, and Thomas’ shot again rebounded off the post. Brocton did get their second two minutes later. A delightful, flighted cross from Blanchette, was met at the far post by Devoir who volleyed the ball into the net for a rare goal. Alsager were still in the game with Price beating Harris before sending his shot over the bar under pressure from Devoir. As half-time approached, Price had a goal bound effort blocked by Ben Haddaway and from the resulting corner, Benarbia forced a superb save from Allsopp.
Half-Time: Brocton 2 Alsager Town 0
Brocton resumed control after the break with the impressive Finlay curling a shot wide. It should have been three on the hour as Thomas played an excellent ball in to Jackson, who side footed wide. In the 61st minute, Brocton dd make it three. An excellent ball from Finlay opened the Alsager defence, it was picked up by Jackson who was tripped by keeper Hall. Connor Haddaway stepped up to despatch the resulting penalty. It was four just four minutes later. Jackson picked up the ball on the left and whether it was a shot or a cross his thunderous ball from the narrowest of angles flew into the Alsager net. The game was pretty much over now as a contest although Wright cleared the bar with a free-kick. Brocton grabbed number five in the 85th minute, Reg Smith, on as a substitute, turned his defender and hammered a volley into the roof of the net. A couple of minutes later, Smith attempted another volley, this one being narrowly off target. On the stroke of full time, a header from William Aldred was comfortably held by Allsopp and with that Brocton were through to Round 3 where they face a trip to NWCFL champions Macclesfield.
Full-Time: Brocton 5 Alsager Town 0 Attendance:59
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Ethan Harris (Brad Rolston 73), Adam Weldon, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan (Jack Bostock 62), Ben Haddaway, Will Finlay (Reg Smith 77), Jake Thomas, Cam Jackson, Connor Haddaway, Christian Blanchette. Subs (Not Used): Luke Haddaway, Dan Evans
Alsager Town: Ashley Hall, Paul Jamieson, Samuel James (Joshua Odukomaya 67), Dominic Barnes, Adam Lawrence, Jason Clarke (William Aldred 53), Jack Price, Jake Thurston (Yousif Bacham 62), Maysan Benarbia, Olly Wright, Jonathan Anderson Ogbomo. Subs (Not Used): Joe Williamson, Connor Comber
Yellow Cards@ Blanchette (Brocton); Lawrence, Ogbomo (Alsager)
