Tuesday 13th August 2024
Midland Football League Premier Division
Brocton 0 1874 Northwich 1
Brocton only made one change from the side that won away at Highgate on Saturday afternoon, Lucas Green-Birch replacing Charlie King in midfield. The home side started the game strongly, an early chance for Christian Blanchette was dragged wide of the Northwich goal after a counter-attack found its way from Morgan Payne on the left, into Reg Smith and then Blanchette, who cut inside on his left foot but couldn’t trouble the goalkeeper. The Northwich keeper, Mike Shorthouse had some early troubles when it came to clearing his lines; one fired into the stand and one blocked by Smith’s press but luckily for Northwich the ball trickled out of play. Early chances came for Brocton but, that didn’t mean it was one-way traffic; both sides enjoyed a good battle in midfield and some half chances for both sides, respectively. Finally, a real opportunity for the Badgers would come in the eighteenth minute when Green-Birch fed through Payne on the counter to put him one-on-one with Shorthouse, but a fantastic save with his feet denied the Badgers from taking the lead. Brocton had found some joy from aerial situations, with Smith proving a handful for the opposition defenders – not long after the last opportunity, a misjudged ball from the defence led to Shorthouse saving his defender’s blushes with a save from a tight angle. A free kick deep into Northwich’s half was pumped long by Tom Morris into the Brocton box, leading to an audacious volley from Jacson Coppack just outside the box flying over the roof of the net, but enough to worry Tony Allsopp. Just minutes later another opportunity for Northwich would come from a great switch from Liam Fitzpatrick to the right wing, finding Harvey Rhoades whose shot is saved by Allsopp. Both sides tried to claim fouls for elbows and flailing arms, Blanchette and Morris both going down in attempts to win free kicks. A great chance for Brocton followed the referee allowing play on after a strong challenge is waved away, Green-Birch driving through the defence down the left wing with Smith and Blanchette not far behind, but he slipped, and the pass was intercepted, and the chance went. Brocton were still creating good opportunities but struggling to find that final pass or finish; a cross from Blanchette into the area was taken off the foot of Payne by one of the Northwich defenders. A good chance for the visitors at the very end of the first half, Fitzpatrick once again caused problems, as he cut inside and had his shot blocked, but the ball fell to Joel Jones, but the subsequent chance was stopped well from Allsopp.
An even battle between two strong sides meant that honours were even at the halftime break, both sides had chances but nothing clear enough to trouble the opposition goal – some great stops from both keepers also helped keep the scores level.
HT: Brocton 0-0 1874 Northwich
As the second half began, so did the rain, as torrential downpours began at Silkmore Lane – Brocton particularly began to struggle with the ball holding up more than they would have liked in the wet conditions. Both sides continued their trend of half chances; a shot from Connor Haddaway is dragged wide ten minutes into the second half. Will Whieldon made his first league appearance of the season when he replaced Payne on the hour, and it wouldn’t take him long to get involved – he volleyed one against the far post from a tight angle, but once again couldn’t convert. But finally, the net would ripple after a Brocton player’s touch, unfortunately, though it would put the visitors 1-0 up. A throw on the Brocton’s right-hand side was played back to Matthew Fenton who was given a lot of time to whip a great ball into the danger area and unfortunately, it’s a Brocton player who is found as Ben Haddaway nods it past Allsopp to give the visitors the lead with fifteen minutes to go. Brocton almost replied instantly, with Whieldon again causing problems, this time at the back post and forcing Shorthouse into a save. Tempers began to rise for both sides as this tense battle drew ever closer to an end, a small shove from Whieldon caused Fitzpatrick to fall into the bench and he was dragged back violently by his coaching staff, to stop any form of conflict from occurring; as a result, Whieldon was booked. In the final minutes, Brocton tried to throw everything they had to try and scramble an equalizer, but their Achilles heel all game had been that final ball and it continued to plague them into stoppage time. A blocked shot from Jake Thomas on the edge of the box resulted in a corner for the Badgers who tried a short corner routine which also resulted in another corner. This time the ball was whipped into the area and Tom Vaughan rose highest to nod it away to equalize in stoppage time, but the referee blew his whistle early for a push in the area and disallowed the goal to the dismay of the home side. That would be it as the referee blew his final whistle, to give the Badgers their first defeat of the season against a very strong Northwich side.
A great start to the season for the visitors who win their opening two games and look strong for the rest of the season. The Badgers can hold their heads high though, as they put in a good performance against an impressive Northwich side, with the lack of end product the only difference between the sides. The Badgers return to Silkmore Lane this Saturday to take on Coleshill Town in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.
FT: Brocton 0 1874 Northwich 1 Attendance:216
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Adam Weldon, Charlie Marshall (Josh Simcox 71’), Ben Haddaway, Tom Vaughn, Lucas Green-Birch, Christian Blanchette, Jake Thomas, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Morgan Payne (Will Whieldon 61’)
Unused Subs: Kenny Devoir, Alex Curtis, Toby Smith
1874 Northwich: Mike Shorthouse, Niall Osbourne, Ashley Wardle (Matty Williams 40’), Matthew Fenton, Mark Jones, Tom Morris, Harvey Rhoades (Jack McKean 68’), Matt Woolley (Scott McGowan 79’), Joel Jones (Luis Davin 90’), Jacson Coppack, Liam Fitzpatrick
Unused Subs: Alex Davin
Yellow Cards: Whieldon (Brocton); Fitzpatrick (1874 Northwich)
Comments