Saturday 20th July 2024
Pre-Season Friendly
Brocton 4-0 Stafford Rangers
Brocton made four changes to the starting line-up from the midweek win at Winsford United. Adam Weldon, Josh Simcox, Ben Haddaway and Connor Haddaway starting, with Morgan Payne, Christian Blanchette and Charlie Marshall amongst the named substitutes. Stafford Rangers went into the game with three trialists in their starting lineup, albeit one of those had signed before the game but was not named!
It was another quick start for Brocton after two minutes as a long ball from Tony Allsopp soared into the Rangers box, catching Jack Sandell in ‘no man’s land,’ and finding its way again to Will Whieldon who tapped it into the net to give Brocton an early lead. Whieldon almost doubled the Brocton lead after six minutes, as he found himself in behind after some great buildup in midfield but dragged his shot inches wide of the bottom left corner. Brocton kept Rangers target man Aaron Opoku quiet for large spells of the first half, but a corner in the thirty first minute found its way onto Opoku’s boot as his overhead kick rattled the Brocton crossbar. It was another impressive performance from young midfielder Charlie King, who created a great opportunity when he drove through the centre of the Rangers backline, but a vital interception kept the scoreline at 1-0. But this wouldn’t be the case for long, as Whieldon’s freekick from wide, in the 34th minute, was perfectly weighted and Ben Haddaway found the back of the net with a diving header to double Brocton’s advantage. The half time whistle couldn’t come soon enough for Rangers as the half ended 2-0 to a dominant Brocton side, who limited the number of chances available to Rangers, often forcing the long ball which was dealt with quite easily by the centre back partnership of Tom Vaughan and Ben Haddaway.
HT: Brocton 2-0 Stafford Rangers
The second half started with Brocton on the front foot. Soon after the restart Reg Smith split the Rangers defence open with a great ball in behind to Lucas Green-Birch who arrived on the right hand side of the box, but his shot grazed the top of the bar. Brocton caused Rangers problem after problem as the high press and aggression caught their opposition out deep in their own half multiple times. In the 60th minute, Smith turned beautifully with a flick and fed Morgan Payne a ball in behind, but his chip attempt again just passed the post. In the 62nd minute, more great hold up play from Smith, found Whieldon on the edge of the box who picked his spot and fired the ball into the top right hand corner to give Brocton a 3-0 lead. Within two minutes it could have been four, as another ball pumped forward by Allsopp found Smith and almost resulted in another goal from poor defending by Rangers, but for a fantastic stop from their newly introduced sixteen year old goalkeeper. Brocton’s routine from the resulting corner, almost led to a fourth goal but Smith’s first time shot from the edge of the box rattled the crossbar, It wasn’t all Brocton though as Rangers had a few opportunities; their best came in the sixty-eighth minute when a crossed ball into the area was headed powerfully towards goal forcing a fine save from Allsopp; the rebound punched over the bar. In the 75th minute Rangers number 18 struck the ball across goal, and it whistled past the top left corner. Brocton increased their lead in the 80th minute. Charlie King picked the ball up in the centre of the park and drove forward, holding off his man with ease and finding Christian Blanchette. Blanchette fed Charlie King on the overlap and his low ball in picked out Morgan Payne alone in the six yard box and he made it four for Brocton with a simple finish. Manager Alex Curtis introduced many of the players who featured midweek against Winsford United, including Ben Hackett and sixteen year old Jude King, who impressed once again and almost got himself a goal in the dying embers. The final whistle sounded on a fantastic afternoon for the Badgers, who impressed against strong opposition, and are looking sharp and ready for the season.
FT: Brocton 4-0 Stafford Rangers Attendance 304
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Adam Weldon (Jude King 79), Josh Simcox (Ben Hackett 73), Ben Haddaway (Kenny Devoir 45), Tom Vaughan (Archie Russell 79), Charlie King, Will Whieldon (Cooper Marsh 79), Jake Thomas (Charlie Marshall 67), Reg Smith (Christian Blanchette 67), Connor Haddaway (Morgan Payne 45), Lucas Green-Birch. Sub (Not Used): Mackenzie Wilson
Report from Zak Whitton
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