Badgers maintain momentum with sixth win on the spin

Friday December 26^th

Capelli Sport MFL Premier Division

AFC Wolverhampton City 1 Brocton 2

The top two sides in the Premier Division form table met in a lunchtime kick off on Boxing Day. City had only dropped two points in their last seven games seeing them climb to fourth in the table. Brocton had won five of the trot moving them to within striking distance of the play offs. Tom Vaughan returned to the Brocton starting line-up with Cooper Marsh amongst the replacements.

The first attempt came from the home side, but Tom Poole was high with his effort from the edge of the area. In the fourth minute, an overlap from Jude King was just behind Reg Smith and Wolverhampton cleared their lines. A minute later, Brocton should have opened the scoring. A superb reverse pass from Smith was into the path of Morgan Payne. His shot left Sam Arnold waiting for the ball to nestle in the net, but it was a fraction wide. Arnold was again called into action, grabbing a cross from King at the second attempt. A clever free-kick routine from Brocton saw them go close again. Connor Haddaway, playing his 250^th game for the club, rolled a free kick into the path of Smith and his low shot was well blocked. A corner from Reece Mason was saved on his goal line by George Scott. Brocton raced down the other end, and Arnold did well to save an effort from King with his legs. Both Payne and Jake Thomas had shots straight at Arnold as Brocton continued to have the better of the game. The dominance was rewarded with the opening goal in the 28^th minute. Smith headed the ball into the path of Payne, who checked back to create a better angle, and clinically beat Arnold. A corner from Connor Haddaway was bundled off the line by Mason. With five minutes of the half remaining, Brocton had the ball in the net again. A lovely ball into the box was tapped home by Payne but the assistant referee adjudged it as offside.

Half-time: AFC Wolverhampton City 0 Brocton 1

Unsurprisingly, the home side came out in the second half with more intent. A cross from Danny Munday was headed goalwards by Timmy Oyanda but Scott saved easily. In the 55^th minute, a shot from Jay Holdcroft was deflected for a corner. The corner wasn’t cleared and Jake Lloyd hammered a shot goalwards, but it was just wide. Wolverhampton adopted an even more physical and direct approach but their intimidatory tactics were not bearing fruit. Connor Haddaway was off target with a twenty-five yard effort. Smith then teed up Payne who delayed his shot allowing the Wolverhampton defence to block his effort. In the 70^th minute, a shot from Connor Haddaway was brilliantly tipped over the bar from Arnold. Connor Haddaway took the corner and his delivery evaded everyone as it went over the line to double Brocton’s lead. Christian Blanchette then went close with a bobbling shot drifting just wide and just too far in front of Dylan Millington. Wolverhampton pulled a goal back with ten minutes to go. A long throw wasn’t cleared and Holdcroft lashed home through a forest of legs. Wolverhampton sensed they could get something out of the game. A cross from Luqman Wirba was headed over by Munday and in the final minute, a free kick from Mason was just wide. Brocton withstood the pressure and deservedly extended their run to six straight wins.

Full-Time: AFC Wolverhampton City 1 Brocton 2

AFC Wolverhampton City: Sam Arnold, Carlo Franco, Reece Mason, Jake Lloyd (Harry Farnsworth 66), Jacob Wedderburn, Joe Clarke, Tom Poole (Jake Webb 62), Joel Omorodion (Jay Holdcroft 54), Danny Munday, Kie Houlihan, Timmy Oyanda (Luqman Wirba 72). Sub (Not Used): Jordan Uppal

Brocton: George Scott, Levi Reid, Josh Simcox, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Ben Haddaway (Lucas Green-Birch 81), Jude King (Christian Blanchette 56), Jake Thomas (Cooper Marsh 72), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Morgan Payne (Dylan Millington 73). Sub (Not Used): Adam Weldon