Saturday 7th January 2023
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Brocton 3 New Mills 0
Brocton made two changes from the side that beat fifth placed Ellesmere Rangers on Tuesday evening. Henry Smith returned between the sticks with Jonty Kearns dropping to the bench, and leading scorer Reg Smith was back from suspension in place of Sam Scott. The two sides met just before Christmas with Brocton winning by the odd goal in seven.
Brocton had an early chance when a free kick was awarded on the edge of the area. Reg Smith stepped up and saw his shot saved by Dylan Forth. At the other end, Henry Smith was forced to save at the feet of Kyle Oakes as New Mills broke down the left. Brocton should have taken the lead in the 8th minute. Smith broke through the middle of the New Mills defence; the ball broke to Ben Haddaway whose shot was blocked. The rebound fell invitingly to Connor Haddaway, but his shot was somehow cleared off the line. In the 18th minute a cross from Christian Blanchette was cleared by the New Mills defence, the ball hit Will Whieldon and trickled past the post. New Mills went close a minute later. The dangerous Teddy Osipitan found space in the penalty area and saw his shot well saved by Henry Smith. The ball came back out to Osipitan, and his cross was brilliantly cut out by Tom Vaughan. New Mills were posing a threat going forward and an attempt by Joel Ankers was inches wide. Reg Smith broke down the left, skipped past the challenge from Emmanuel Udjor Omorogbe and his shot looped into the arms of Forth. Brocton went close in the 33rd minute. A cross to the back post by Connor Haddaway was headed towards goal by Adam Weldon, the ball rebounding off the post and cleared by New Mills. The final chance of the first half fell to Oakes who volleyed over the bar after a free kick was headed down.
Half-Time: Brocton 0 New Mills 0
Brocton started the second half brightly. Jake Thomas sent Reg Smith clear, and he was thwarted by a superb challenge from Omorogbe. Brocton took the lead in the 48th minute. From a throw in, the ball was headed down to the edge of the area where Whieldon volleyed into the bottom corner. New Mills went close to an equaliser in the 53rd minute. A free kick from Chris Rogers was brilliantly saved by Henry Smith. Brocton had clear claims for a penalty in the 55th minute when Connor Haddaway was bundled over by Omorogbe, but nothing was given. Brocton made it two in the 61st minute and it was a goal of high quality. Reg Smith and Weldon combined on the right and Weldon’s pinpoint cross was headed home at the far post by Connor Haddaway. Brocton were now dominant and Blanchette headed wide from a Connor Haddaway corner. In the 67th minute, a shot from Blanchette was brilliantly saved by Forth and the follow up from Connor Haddaway came back off the post. Brocton’s third goal came in the 71st minute. A long throw from Weldon was at the feet of Thomas who spun his defender and played the ball perfectly into the corner of the net. Thomas went close again two minutes later clearing the bar after an excellent inside ball from Smith. Forth again came to New Mills rescue, pulling off another excellent save to thwart Blanchette. Blanchette was doing everything but score and he headed just wide from a floated free kick. Weldon played a lovely, weighted ball into the path of Connor Haddaway, but his shot was saved again by Forth. Into the last ten minutes, and a fierce shot from Thomas flew past the post with Forth beaten. In stoppage time, Luke Haddaway won a header and sent Morgan Payne free, he raced into the area and Forth made a fine save. The New Mills keeper saved his best till last in the first minute of stoppage time. Charlie King curled a superb shot which the acrobatic Forth tipped over the bar.
Full Time: Brocton 3 New Mills 0 Attendance:117
Brocton: Henry Smith, Adam Weldon (Luke Haddaway 89), Jack Bostock, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Ben Haddaway (Morgan Payne 63), Will Whieldon, Jake Thomas, Reg Smith (Charlie King 81), Connor Haddaway, Christian Blanchette. Subs (Not Used): Will Finlay, Jonty Kearns
New Mills: Dylan Forth, Jake Wright, Chris Rogers, Adam Stuart (Jordan Milne 65), Marcus Dibble, Emmanuel Udjor Omorogbe, Jack Wray (Richard Tindall 74), Kyle Oakes (Aderemi Efunnuga 80), Joel Ankers, George Howarth, Teddy Osipitan (Reece Lyndon 63). Sub (Not Used): Chris Cordara-Soanes
Yellow Cards: Vaughan (Brocton), Wray (New Mills)
