Saturday 13th November
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Brocton 2 Alsager Town 1
The Badgers welcomed back Ben Douglas into the starting line up. He replaced Jake Thomas who dropped to the bench after missing training through illness in midweek. Alsager came into the game one place ahead of Brocton in the league table.
It was the visitors that started on the front foot, being first to the ball and harrying the Brocton midfield. It was Alsager that took the lead in the 6th minute. A superb cross from the right from Harry Walker was met with a perfect header from George West, right into the corner of the goal. The Bullets continued to impress with the George Coleville a constant presence to the Brocton midfielders. Brocton’s first attack came courtesy of Alex Curtis down the right, with his cross gathered by Alsager keeper Dimaji Willan. Connor Haddaway created a glimmer of a chance for Regan Smith, but the big striker’s control let him down. Shaquille Lewys beat Dan Evans with ease down the Alsager right and his cross was well cut out by Luke Haddaway. The corner. Flew across the face of goal with no-one on hand to touch it home. Alsager continued to press with the impressive West seeing his shot blocked by Douglas. Nelson Agho was the next Bullet to have a shot on target, the effort easily held by Tony Allsopp. The physical prowess of Lewys was causing problems at the heart of the Brocton defence, and he won another free-kick when his run was ended with him being upended. Jospeh Thompson hit the free-kick against the wall and the danger passed. Alsager should have doubled their lead in the 28th minute. Thompson forced a superb save from Allsopp. The rebound fell to Lewys who failed to convert, his volley being deflected inches wide of the post. This let-off seemed to be the spark that finally ignited the Badgers. A long free-kick from Allsopp, picked out Curtis whose volley cleared the bar. Brocton went close in the 33rd minute with Tom Vaughan heading just wide from a well delivered Curtis free-kick. Curtis was again off target with a volley before Willan was forced to save well from Connor Haddaway following an excellent cross from Malaki Norford. With four minute left of the half, a cross from Curtis was not gathered cleanly by Willan, and with Smith and Vaughan challenging the keeper, the referee awarded a free-kick to the visitors for supposedly kicking the ball out of the keeper’s hands.
Half-Time: Brocton 0 Alsager Town 1
Brocton had the first chance of the second half, Connor Haddaway teeing up Vaughan whose shot was well blocked. Douglas was called into action to clear for a corner. Following an excellent cross from Walker. Brocton continued to grow into the game and Connor Haddaway forced an excellent save from Willan before Smith saw his shot blocked. A corner from Curtis was flicked wide by Douglas as Brocton searched for an equaliser. Brocton were taking advantage of long free-kicks from Allsopp, with Thomas having a header comfortably saved after another good ball forward. Curtis clung to his right hand touchline and from another well placed delivery, Smith’s header was well blocked. Alsager continued to play some sparkling football and West went close when his shot was deflected wide of the post by Evans, the referee causing more head scratching by awarding a goal kick! Alsager substitute Ben Darby created a chance out of nothing, beating two defenders before forcing Allsopp into another excellent save. With ten minutes left, Brocton were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. Smith stepped up, and with supporters thinking of his goal last week, they were disappointed when the shot was well off target. Brocton were now throwing everything at the visitors to grab an equaliser. With a minute left, and almighty scramble in the Alsager box ended with the ball going out of play for a corner. Brocton finally drew level in the 90th minute. A deep corner from the left, reached Curtis beyond the back post, and the player manager hammered the ball low past Willan. Brocton could sense a dramatic turn round and three minutes into stoppage time an overhead kick from Smith flashed agonisingly wide. Brocton were not to be denied and they grabbed the winner a minute later. The ever dangerous Smith shot on target, which was fumbled by Willan, and Cam Jackson was on hand to tuck the ball home from close in, much to the delight of his teammates and the majority of the supporters in the ground.
Full-Time: Brocton 2 Alsager Town 1 Attendance:114
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Malaki Norford (Dean Williams 83), Dan Evans, Luke Haddaway (Cam Jackson 77), Ben Douglas, Kenny Devoir (Jake Thomas 62), Alex Curtis, Tom Vaughan, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Ben Haddaway. Subs (Not Used): Cameron Osborne, Keiren Nelson
Alsager Town: Dimeji Willan, Harry Walker, Ryan Hough (Bruno Camara 65), Jordan Stafford, Luke Vayro, Sam Roberts, joseph Thompson, George Coleville, Shaquille Lewys (Josh Paterson 82), Nelson Agho (Ben Darby 45), George West. Sub (Not Used): Jack Cottrell-Wood
Sin Bin: Stafford (Alsager)
Yellow Cards: Stafford, Vayro (Alsager)
