Saturday 5th March
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Cammell Laird 1907 0 Brocton 0
Brocton travelled to The Wirral for their first ever visit to Cammell Laird 1907, the team that were their first opponents at Silkmore Lane in their inaugural season in the NWCFL. Brocton were without Ben Haddaway and Kenny Devoir through suspension, with left back Dan Evans also unavailable. Into the starting line-up came Adam Weldon, Luke Haddaway and player manager, Alex Curtis.
Brocton showed early promise with Cam Osborne finding decent positions but misplacing passes enabling the home side to snuff out any danger. The first chance of the game went to Cammell Laird in the 7th minute. A well delivered corner from Joe Downey was met by the head of skipper Jake Hulley, forcing Tony Allsopp into a decent save. In the 11th minute, a dangerous cross from left wing-back Ellis Bolton, was cleared for a corner by Weldon. Downey again delivered the dead ball finding the head of the unmarked Ryan Smith, but his effort was wide of the Brocton goal. Brocton forced a save from Cammell Laird keeper Nathan Davidson, fingertipping a snapshot from Reg Smith, past his post for a corner. Connor Haddaway delivered the ball into the area, where it was half-cleared to Curtis whose shot was straight at Davidson. Christian Blanchette was off target when he should have hit the target. The home side had an opportunity when Allsopp cleared, leaving his goal open, but Hulley’s effort from distance was well wide. A Curtis corner was headed wide by Jake Thomas. On the half hour mark, Pablo Martinez Palacios was almost through on goal, thwarted by a superb challenge by Luke Haddaway. Brocton responded with another corner which was headed off the line after a goalmouth scramble. With half-time approaching, Brocton created their best chance of the half. Weldon did well on the left to feed the ball inside to Smith. The striker flicked the ball into the path of Curtis who was one on one with the keeper. Curtis attempted to beat Davidson at the near post, but the keeper did well to block the effort. Two minutes later, it was Cammell Laird who had a good opportunity to break the deadlock. A mistake at the back by the Brocton defence, left Kieran Hamm in space but his drive, although well hit, was over the angle of post and bar.
Half-Time: Cammell Laird 1907 0 Brocton 0
It was the home side that fashioned the first chance of the second half, Hamm’s lopping header gathered under his crossbar by Allsopp. Brocton wasted two glorious opportunities three minutes into the half. Osborne was through on goal, but his shot was straight at Davidson, when he probably had more time to pick his spot. Connor Haddaway then found space down the right and with Blanchette in front of goal and unmarked, his cross cannoned off a defender and the chance was gone. Brocton were grateful to keeper Allsopp in the 50th minute, pulling off an excellent save to claw away a volley from Dan Stephens. The all action start to the second half continued with a fierce drive from Osborne being spilled by Davidson but Blanchette couldn’t get anything on the rebound to turn it home. Brocton again wasted an opportunity to take the lead when Blanchette found Osborne at the far post, his shot going wide from a tight angle. In a tight game, the better chances were certainly being created by Brocton and Davidson saved well from Curtis, the rebound falling just behind Osborne allowing Cammell Laird to clear. In the 70th minute, Allsopp was again called into action, tipping over a cross from Downey. There was almost a calamity at the back for Cammell Laird when a header back to Davidson had the keeper backpedalling before he gathered the ball just in front of his line. Cammell Laird wasted a glorious chance in the 83rd minute. The impressive Hulley, beat the Brocton offside trip and his volley rippled the side netting. With a minute of normal time remaining, a long free-kick was met by the head of substitute Kalif Koura, but, thankfully for Brocton, his header was off target. A draw was a fair result between two well matched sides.
Full-Time: Cammell Laird 1907 0 Brocton 0
Cammell Laird 1907: Nathan Davidson, Jake Hulley, Ellis Bolton (Jack Lloyd 73), Gabriel Kubwale, Daniel Stephens, Michael Jones, Ben Kerr, Ryan Smith, Kieran Hamm, Joseph Downey, Pablo Martinez Palacios (Kalif Koura 64). Subs (Not Used): Ethan Galt, Jack Wood, Ricci Neill
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Brad Rolston (Ethan Harris 90+2), Adam Weldon, Luke Haddaway (Sam Hollinsworth 63), Tom Vaughan, Alex Curtis, Christian Blanchette, Jake Thomas, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Cam Osborne (Cam Jackson 79). Subs (Not used); Jake Triggs
Yellow Cards: Smith (Cammell Laird), Curtis (Brocton)
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