Saturday 24th September
FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Cradley Town vs Brocton
Brocton made one change from the side that drew at Cammell Laird last week with Charlie King starting in place of Jake Thomas. Cradley sat bottom of MFL Division One with three draws from their opening twelve league games.
The home side were the first to show, Kane Harrold hitting a shot against his teammate Fadel Traore. Brocton’s first opportunity came in the 11th minute. A corner from Connor Haddaway was headed wide of the post by skipper Kenny Devoir. A cross from Morgan Payne was gathered well underneath his crossbar by Cradley keeper Nana Frimpong but he could do nothing about Brocton’s opener in the 15th minute. Reg Smith took aim, and with the Cradley defence unaware of the threat, his low shot was far too good for the keeper. Cradley had an opportunity to bounce back in the 21st minute. A cross from Declan Bibb was headed wide by Harrold who was impeded by his own player. Brocton went close to doubling the lead in the 25th minute. Smith fed Payne on the left. He cut back inside and curled a shot just wide of the post. It should have been two in the 33rd minute. Payne forced an excellent save from Frimpong. The ball wasn’t cleared and when Smith’s shot was fumbled by the keeper, Cam Osborne, following up, tapped it back into Frimpong’s arms when either side would have been a certain goal. Brocton were asking a lot of questions of the Cradley defence. A cross from Smith was cut out by Cradley skipper Darren Whitley. Connor’ Haddaway’s corner picked out Smith, but he couldn’t keep his header down. Brocton were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and Smith’s free kick was on target but comfortably held by Frimpong. The second gaol came a minute before half-time. A long throw from Jack Bostock eventually reached Connor Haddaway at the far post. He picked his spot, and the finish was clinical. Steven Bull had a chance to reduce the deficit, but he was off target and Smith followed with a similar chance for Brocton with exactly the same result.
Half-Time: Cradley Town 0 Brocton 2
Brocton started the second half slowly and it was the home side that came close to pulling a goal back on the hour. Substitute Kwaku Hinneh flashed a shot just wide and Nataniel D’Jalo lobbed Tony Allsopp with his shot dropping wide of the net. Cradley went closer still in the 65th minute when a low cross cannoned off Devoir and hit the post with Allsopp beaten. Brocton made the victory almost certain with a third goal in the 71st minute. Smith broke quickly, played the ball into the path of Osborne, who cut back inside and fired into the corner. Osborne went close again in the 78th minute when a cross from the left had Frimpong grateful to see the ball drift wide of his far post. Cradley almost pulled one back when D’Jalo’s cross was headed past his own post by Jake Triggs. Smith had a chance to make it four, but his volley was well wide. Final chance of the game fell to Ball for the home side, but his finish was a long way over the bar.
Full-Time: Cradley Town 0 Brocton 3 Attendance:52
Cradley Town: Nana Frimpong, Declan Bibb, Mico Ela Mamiaga, Kieran Price, Darren Whitley, Lleyton Gould, Jake Crackett, Steven Bull, Kane Harrold (Nataniel D’Jalo 54), Joseph Finch (Kwaku Hinneh 45), Fadel Traore (Chervare Gordon 65). Subs (Not Used): Beni-Sem Kiembi, Joshue Stokes
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Jack Bostock (Brad Rolston 81), Jake Triggs, Luke Haddaway, Kenny Devoir, Morgan Payne, Cam Osborne, Charlie King (Will Finlay 72), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Cam Jackson (Christian Blanchette 62). Subs (Not Used): Ethan Harris, Mario Novaku, Ben Haddaway, Jonty Kearns
