Badgers edged out at Shifnal

Saturday 19th April

Capelli Sport MFl Premier Division Play-Off Semi-Final

Shifnal Town 3 Brocton 2

Brocton made four changes from the side that lost at Dudley Town last week. Back into the starting line-up came Tom Vaughan, Josh Simcox, Jake Thomas and Christian Blanchette with Kenny Devoir, Cooper Marsh, Jude King, and Lucas Green-Birch dropping to the bench. Shifnal had finished second in the table and came into the play-off on the back of excellent form.

It was the home side that showed first. Josh Simcox fouled Brad Bood, and when the ball was played into the box, Kyle Bennett’s effort was wild and off target. Brocton took the lead in the 14th minute. A quick break saw the ball come back off a defender to Will Whieldon and his finish was past Andy Wycherley and into the corner. Whieldon had another chance three minutes later, with his left footed effort going wide of the goal. Bood cut inside from the right, ran across the defence, and shot inches wide. Shifnal were back level in the 23rd minute. A clumsy challenge from Simcox in the area on Sam Fitzgerald saw the referee point to the spot. Fitzgerald lifted himself from the dirt and calmly despatched the penalty past Tony Allsopp. Within two minutes, Shifnal had turned the game around and taken the lead. A slip by Vaughan let in Fitzgerald, His pass was blocked but it took a deflection into the path of Kyle Byrne. He checked onto this right foot and forced Allsopp into a fine save. The loose ball fell kindly to Byrne who tapped it home. Back came Brocton and they equalised in the 28th minute. A foul outside the area gave Brocton a free kick in a good position. Reg Smith stepped up and curled a superb shot past Wycherley and into the net. The end to end nature of the game continued with Bood dragging a shot wide for the home side. In the 36th minute, Fitzgerald spun and shot forcing Allsopp into an excellent save. With two minutes of the half remaining, a cross from Fitzgerald was headed goalwards by Kev Monteiro with Allsopp saving well. With time almost up, Blanchette laid the ball into the path of Smith, but he shot across the face of goal.

Half-time: Shifnal Town 2 Brocton 2

Four minutes into the second half, Allsopp raced off his line to clear the ball away from Bood. A minute later, Simcox was caught out by a crossfield ball, and Bood scuffed his shot which still hit the post. Fitzgerald played the ball into the path of Bennett with the Shifnal skipper clearing the bar with his effort. In the 56th minute, Blanchette got in on goal, but Wycherley stayed strong to save. A long ball forward from Wycherley bounced over the Brocton defence with Fitzgerald volleying into the side netting. Whieldon and Smith combined before Smith shot wide at the near post. Brocton were awarded another free kick. All eyes were on Smith who this time hit his shot against the wall. At the other end, Monteiro forced another save from Allsopp. Shifnal took the lead in the 67th minute. A corner from the right was not cleared and Jack Rowley hammered the ball into the net. The goal settled Shifnal who worked hard to control the game while Brocton tried manfully to get back in it. The chance came in the 89th minute. Morgan Payne found Smith. He laid the ball off to the onrushing Thomas, but his shot was too high and cleared the bar. Six minutes of added time brought no more chances and Shifnal progressed to a play-off final against 1874 Northwich.

Full-time: Shifnal Town 3 Brocton 2 Attendance: 675

Shifnal Town: Andy Wycherley, Jack Fishman, Kane Lewis, Jack Rowley, Brad Maslen-Jones, Kyle Bennett, Brad Bood, Kev Monteiro, Sam Fitzgerald (Isaac Phillips 68), Lewis Jarman, Kyle Byrne. Subs (Not Used): Taylor Need, Theo Knight, Josh Beamond, Braden Webb

Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Jake Danan (Morgan Payne 85), Josh Simcox, Ben Haddaway (Kenny Devoir 67), Tom Vaughan, Charlie King (Lucas Green-Birch 89), Will Whieldon, Jake Thomas, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Christian Blanchette (Jude King 67). Sub (Not Used): Cooper Marsh

Yellow Card: Simcox (Brocton)