A tightly contested affair at Silkmore Lane ends in our first draw, with Rocester taking the lead but the Badgers equalising within 10 mins
Tuesday 31st August
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Brocton 1 Rocester 1
Brocton made four changes from the side beaten at home by Wythenshawe Amateurs. Visitors Rocester came into the game on the back of six straight league defeats.
In front of a healthy crowd, the first opportunity of the game fell to Brocton in the 8th minute. A cross from Malaki Norford was headed wide by Dean Williams. Rocester took the lead two minutes later. A free-kick from George Mealey was headed back into the box by Alexander Cimino and former Brocton centre back, Alex Scott was on hand to tourn it home from close range. Rocester almost made it two a couple of minutes later when a snapshot from Jack Stevens narrowly missed the target. Brocton were back on terms in the 14th minute. A corner from Williams was headed goalwards by Kenny Devoir, stopping low. The ball looped over the keeper, rebounded off the crossbar and a last ditch clearance from the Rocester defence turned the ball over the line. A driving run by Williams resulted in a corner which came to nothing. Norford found Cam Jackson down the left hand touch line and his whipped cross was into the box was inviting but there was no Brocton player on hand to finish. An excellent through ball by Rocester picked out the run of Cimino and he was foiled with a decent save from Corey Mallen. Brocton were awarded a free-kick in a good position and Ben Haddaway’s shot was fumbled by Charlie Wood but gathered at the second attempt. Dead ball delivery from both sides was proving the most potent threat and from an excellent corner from Measley, the Brocton defence managed to scramble the ball clear. Brocton should have taken the lead five minutes into time added on at the end of the half. An excellent cross from Norford, picked out Ben Haddaway. With the goal at his mercy, he delayed his shot and allowed Wood to save at point blank range.
Half-time: Brocton 1 Rocester 1
There was no change to the tempo of the game with neither side gaining an advantage in the middle of the park. Five minutes after the break, Measley hit a free-kick from the right which drifted just wide under the watchful gaze of Mallen. Brocton went close in the 53rd minute. Good approach play saw Adam Weldon teed up perfectly and his fierce drive rattled the cross bar and Todd Pryor’s follow up shot was deflected for a corner. Measley continued to be Rocester’s most potent threat, and another right wing free-kick cleared everyone and drifted harmlessly out for a goal kick. In the 73rd minute. Measley’s free-kick was cleared with a fine defensive header by Jack Weldon. With fifteen minutes left, Rocester wasted a glorious chance. A cross from Stevens picked out Jack Grimshaw in space but his shot was over the bar. Rocester wasted another good chance three minutes later with Lewis Dawson this time clearing the Brocton crossbar. Chances were falling to Rocester, and Stevens was the next to waste a chance, blasting wide when it would have been easier to hit the target. With five minutes later, a corner into the Brocton penalty area caused panic and Scott volleyed over when he could have settled the game. With a minute left, Brocton could have taken all three points. A cross from Jack Weldon found Todd Pryor unmarked at the far post but the youngster put his volley over the bar. A minute into stoppage time, a corner from Jack Weldon was headed goalwards by Adam Weldon but Wood was on hand to save comfortably, and a draw was the inevitable outcome.
Full-Time: Brocton 1 Rocester 1 Attendance:132
Brocton: Corey Mallen, Adam Weldon. Dan Evans (Todd Pryor 35), Josh Mousley, Luke Haddaway, Kenny Devoir, Brad Rolston (Ryan Douglas 24), Malaki Norford, Dean Williams (Jack Weldon 63), Ben Haddaway, Cam Jackson. Subs (Not Used): Ben Powell, Louis Lake
Rocester: Charlie Wood, Reuben Lal, George Mealey, Jack Grimshaw, Alex Scott, David bailey, Lewis Dawson, David Pereira, Elijah Sawyers (Elisio Francisco 4), Alexander Cimino, Jack Stevens. Subs (Not Used): Matt Nutt, Oliver Griffiths
Yellow Cards: Mousley, Adam Weldon (Brocton)
