Tuesday 18th January 2022
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Brocton 1 West Didsbury & Chorlton 2
Brocton were forced into changes from the side that won at St Martin’s at the weekend. Jake Thomas and Jed Davies were unavailable with Luke Haddaway and Ethan Scutt coming in. In a further change to the starting line-up, Cam Osborne replaced Cam Jackson who dropped to the bench. There was a welcome return on the subs bench for Adam Weldon, back from injury. Leaders West Didsbury & Chorlton were playing their first league of 2022 and were hoping to open up a lead at the top of the table.
The visitors had a great opportunity in the 4th minute when Lee Gavin was clean through, but he chipped over the cross bar. The dangerous Dontai Gabidon put in a good cross which was well cut out by Kenny Devoir. Brocton’s first chance fell to reg Smith but his shot on the turn was well wide. Devoir had started the game strongly and he did well to take the ball off the boot of Ezeikel Eme. In the 21st minute, a low cross from Luke Haddaway was cleared for a corner. From the resultant delivery, the ball came out to Scutt whose shot was blocked by the West Didsbury defence. Two minutes later, a free-kick was played into the path of Rhain Davis, and his low shot was comfortably saved by Tony Allsopp. Gabidon forced another save from Allsopp following some clever footwork. Brocton took the lead in the 31st minute. Connor Haddaway fed Ben Haddaway down the right and his low cross was flicked home by Osborne. The visitors responded with Connor Haddaway putting his body on the line to block an effort from Ben Elliott. From the corner, Sam Heathcote’s powerful header hit Keiren Nelson for another corner. In the 36th minute, the West Didsbury bench were hollering for a penalty as Davis’ volley flew over the bar under pressure from a defender. In first half-stoppage time, Smith wriggled free of his marker and his fierce shot was well saved by Andrew Jones.
Half-Time: Brocton 1 West Didsbury & Chorlton 0
West Didsbury were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Brocton area for handball. Heathcote blasted his free-kick against the wall. No quarter was being given in the middle of the park as the intensity continued to rise from both sides. Good footwork by the ever dangerous Gabidon resulted in a block from Nelson. In the 72nd minute, Brocton went close to a second. Connor Haddaway’s corner was flicked goalwards by Scutt and Heathcote was on hand to clear the lines. An excellent ball by Smith sent Connor Haddaway free down the right hand touch line and his cross was well saved by Andrew Jones. West Didsbury drew level in the 80th minute. A free-kick was awarded midway into the Brocton half. Callum Jones delivered the ball into the area where Elliott rose above the defence to power a header past Allsopp. Brocton had a chance to immediately regain the lead when Smith found space in the area, but his shot was off target. Gabidon forced a fine save from Allsopp following yet more intricate ball control. West Disbury clinched all three points a minute into stoppage time. A long ball was played towards the Brocton area. Elliott flicked his header on where Devoir was on hand to cushion a header back to Allsopp. Unfortunately for Brocton, Devoir’s header was wide of Allsopp and despite the keeper’s best efforts, the ball rolled across the line to spark celebrations amongst the West Didsbury contingent. When the final whistle went after seven minutes of stoppage time, the reaction from the league leaders highlighted what a battle they had been involved in.
Full-Time: Brocton 1 West Didsbury & Chorlton 2 Attendance:128
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Luke Haddaway, Dan Evans, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan (Keiren Nelson 20), Ben Haddaway, brad Rolston, Ethan Scutt (Cam Jackson 90+2), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Cam Osborne: Subs (Not Used): Adam Weldon, Jake Triggs, Corey Mallen
West Didsbury & Chorlton: Andrew Jones, Matthew Cook, Connor Hancock (Thomas Westall 82), Liam Delaney (Callum Jones 76), Marcus Dibble, Sam Heathcote, Ezeikel Eme (Harry Cain 62), Lee Gavin, Ben Elliott, Rhain Davis, Dontai Gabidon. Subs (Not Used): Jack Ryan, Joel Swift
Yellow cards: Evans, Rolston, Nelson (Brocton), Heathcote, Elliott, Callum Jones, Cain (West Didsbury)
