Badgers thwarted on the road

Saturday October 25th

Capelli Sport MFL Premier Division

Dudley Town 2 Brocton 1

Both sides named almost unchanged sides from their previous matches with Lewis Mitchell replaced by Dan Jones for the home side and Morgan Payne by Jude King for Brocton. It was clear from the outset that this would be a high quality match with mutual respect from each side toward their opponents.

There was soon goal mouth action with Tom Owen flashing a low ball across Brocton’s box and Ryan Snape unable to reach it and a swift counter attack from Brocton leading to Ben Haddaway giving JudeKing the chance to cross into Dudley’s box. That one was put out for a corner.

Brocton were having the better of the attacks, but were guilty of over hitting the ball into the striking players, likely because of unfamiliarity with the slick, fast running astro turf. A series of good set ups went by but the approach work was exhilarating.

At the other end Kenny Devoir continued his outstanding form with timely interceptions and firm

headers to clear his lines. Josh Simcox on one side and Cooper Marsh were also coping well with Sean Devlin and the tricky Harry Crook respectively

Half Time: Dudley Town 0 Brocton 0

The game was end to end again from the start but it was a sharp intersection by the canny Dan Jones which put Brocton on the back foot and Charlie King, who reacted quickly, was harshly booked when chasing back to slow the move.

The free kick seemed to have been repelled, but the Dudley forwards were able to set up Harry Crook for a successful drive past Jack Sandel on 55 minutes.

Brocton continued their good play and young Jude King, despite having to deal with the close attentions of Lewis Riley-Stewart, managed to set up Connor Haddaway, But his shot went over the bar. Surely Brocton’s pressure would tell and it was from a corner that Ben Haddaway headed back across the box for Jake Thomas to crown what had been a vintage performance with a headed goal to bring the visitors

level.

Dudley tried to press quickly for a winner, but it was Brocton who began to find some control and seemed the most likely at that point.

They forced Dudley to defend deep but that also brought Brocton further forward and the warning signs were there when twice in quick succession the ball was pinched from a Brocton foot deep in the Dudley last third and a speedy counter attack nearly gave the home side the spoils.

From one such attack, Jack Sandel, already having an imposing game in goal, had to thwart clean

through Matt Funge by winning a one on one tackle he had no right to win.

But Brocton smelled victory and whilst not quite throwing caution to the winds, still pressed for that winning goal and were finally undone when relaxing at the back having played two Dudley players into an offside position, were caught out by the run from deep of substitute Kyle Moseley who found himself clear of the defence with the goal at his mercy. He made no mistake and put the home side in front.

Despite the best efforts of their visitors, Dudley had far too much know how to let the lead slip and could have added to their tally late on as Brocton threw more and more into attack.

Full Time: Dudley Town 2 Brocton 1 Attendance 137

Dudley Town: Tom Carter, Luke Hennessy, Tom Owen, Kris Taylor, Lewis Riley-Stewart, Dan Jones, Sean Devlin (Lewis Mitchell 70), Ryan Snape, Matt Funge (Kyle Moseley 75) , Jordan Davies, (Ethan Muckley 75) Harry Crook (Jamie Beddall 89) .

Unused sub: Alfie Wilkes

Brocton: Jack Sandel, Cooper Marsh, (Jake Danan 70) Josh Simcox, Kenny Devoir (Levi Reid 89) , Tom Vaughan, Charlie King, Ben Haddaway (Dylan Millington 75) , Jake Thomas, Connor Haddaway

(Morgan Payne 70) , Christian Blanchette.

Unused sub: Jake Triggs