The Badgers get their first win of the season against Camel Laird. Not without nerves tested at the end, but the team stood firm!
Saturday 7th August 2021
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Brocton 3 Cammell Laird 1907 2
Brocton welcomed Cammell Laird to Silkmore Lane for their first home game in the North West Counties League. The badgers made 5 changes from the side that lost at Eccleshall in midweek due to injuries and unavailability.
The visitors began on the front foot with Brocton skipper Kenny Devoir clearing well from a dangerous cross from Regan Rubin. A free-kick from Jack Lloyd was headed clear by Jack Arrowsmith before Brocton scored on their first foray forward in the 9th minute. Dean Williams floated a corner into the box for Brad Rolston to power home a header. Three minutes later, Williams’ shot from distance was fumbled by Laird’s keeper Casey Shakeshaft, but he gathered before Rolston could pounce. Brocton doubled their lead in the 13th minute. Dan Evans crossed from the left, Williams glanced a header which came off defender Sam Mullally and into the net. The visitors responded with good footwork from Cameron McGregor, creating space for himself, and forcing a save from Corey Mallen. Cammell Laird halved the deficit in the 16th minute. Mallen’s clearing punch from a corner fell to Mullally whose volley flew into the Brocton net. The game was end to end with Rubin testing Mallen and Josh Mousley just wide with an effort at the other end. Cammell Laird could have drawn level when a cross from Rio Merrifield was missed by Colm Lynch. Brocton were close to a third in the 26th minute. Adam Weldon played the ball down the line to Rolston who drove towards goal and saw his shot well saved by Shakeshaft. From the resultant corner taken by Williams, Ben Haddaway was allowed a free header, but it was off target. Mousley then tested the keeper who again saved well. Brocton bagged their third in the 29th minute. Rolston beat Nicholas Lynch, somehow managed to keep the ball in, and played the ball inside to Williams whose finish was clinical. Back came Cammell Laird and Ryan Smith should have done better when he volleyed over McGregor’s cross. Brocton almost grabbed a fourth when Williams’ free-kick was volleyed his own bar by Colm Lynch.
Half-Time: Brocton 3 Cammell Laird 1907 1
Cammell Laird came out all guns blazing in the second half as they attempted to claw back their two goal deficit. A mistake from Jamie Weldon, almost created an opening but a fine challenge from Devoir cleared the danger. A poor clearance by Shakeshaft was straight to Mousley and his attempt from 40 yards drifted wide. The visitors were dominating possession and territory and Colm Lynch headed over from a Jack Lloyd free-kick. Cammell Laird scored their second mid-way through the half, and it was a superb effort. Rubin picked up the ball on the right, drifted past a couple of defenders and arrowed his shot into the corner past Mallen. Merrifield took advantage of another Badgers defensive mistake, but he ballooned his shot over the bar. With fourteen minutes left, Cammell Laird were down to ten men when Nicholas Lynch went off injured after all three substitutes had been used. This did not alter the pattern of the play with Brocton happy to play on the break. With six minutes left, Rolston shot from 25 yards forcing Shakeshaft to save well. Haddaway also forced a save from Shakeshaft as Cammell Laid left gaps at the back as they strove for an equaliser. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Rubin’s low free-kick was gathered by Mallen. Despite all of their pressure, Cammell Laird could not force an equaliser and the Badgers picked up their first points of the season.
Full-Time: Brocton 3 Cammell Laird 1907 2 Attendance:60
Brocton: Corey Mallen, Adam Weldon, Dan Evans, Jack Arrowsmith, Jamie Weldon, Kenny Devoir, Brad Rolston, Ben Haddaway, Dean Williams (Luke Haddaway 90+1), Josh Mousley (Ben Powell 86), Cam Jackson (Ryan Douglas 62). Subs (Not Used): Jack Weldon
Cammell Laird 1907: Casey Shakeshaft, Jake Hulley, Jack Lloyd, Dan Stephens, Nicholas Lynch, Sam Mullally (Joe Downey 71), Regan Rubin, Ryan Smith (Nathan Haynes 58), Colm Lynch, Cameron McGregor (Ben Summers 45), Rio Merrifield. Subs (Not Used): Ellis Bolton, Jack Cookson
Yellow cards: Evans, Arrowsmith, Mousley (Brocton), Lloyd, N. Lynch, Merrifield (Cammell Laird 1907)
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