Goalless on the banks of the Severn

Saturday 11th October

Capelli Sport MFL Premier Division

Stourport Swifts 0 Brocton 0

Brocton made two changes from the side that beat Whitchurch Alport. With Tom Vaughan and Will Whieldon unavailable, Ben Haddaway and Morgan Payne moved to the starting XI. There was a place on the bench for Josh Simcox, after a brief spell elsewhere. Stourport had lost their previous 8 games, their management team standing down in midweek. Their new, unnamed, manager was in attendance.

It was the home side that made the first impression when John Millinchip shot across goal from the left hand side. A ball over the top of the defence by Jake Thomas, saw Payne beat the advancing Stourport keeper, Charlie McNamara, but the ball was cleared for a corner before Payne could supply the finishing touch. Brocton created another good opening in the 7th minute. An overlap from Charlie King found Thomas but his shot was wide. Brocton should have opened the scoring moments later. Payne played the ball into the path of Charlie King, and he dragged his shot wide when he should have hit the target. Brocton were inches away from an opener in the 12th minute. A ball in from Ben Haddaway hit defender Will Rawlins with the ball looping inches over the crossbar with the keeper stranded. The end to end nature of the game continued with Stourport wasting a glorious chance to take the lead. Joe Phillips played the ball in from the left. It was met by Billy Moore who shot wide with the goal at his mercy. Stourport went close again four minutes later. Dawid Szkwarek picked his spot and forced Kyle Langston into an excellent diving save. Next chance fell to Brocton with efforts from Charlie King and Thomas blocked by the Stourport defence. Brocton wasted another gilt edged chance in the 28th minute. Jude King found acres of space, but his shot was saved by McNamara. The ball came back out to Reg Smith, and his shot was headed off the line. Back down the other end, a cross from Leo Gouveia was headed wide by Joe Phillips who again should have hit the target. The final attempt of a frantic half of football saw Phillips’ shot was from distance but it was safely gathered by Langston.

Half time: Stourport Swifts 0 Brocton 0

Brocton were forced into a change at half-time with Simcox replacing the injured Christian Blanchette. A minute into the half, a one-two between Thomas and Ben Haddaway saw the latter foiled by McNamara. Brocton started the second half on top and a volley from Reg Smith flew over the bar. In the 54th minute, the tenacious Charlie King set up Reg Smith and again his shot was too high. Another great chance went begging for Brocton in the 57th minute. Excellent work by Payne ended with a pass to Jude King. Instead of shooting, the young striker tried to tee up Reg Smith, and the attempt was blocked. The chances kept coming for Brocton. Dylan Millington raced into the area but his ball to Reg Smith was just behind him and the chance was gone. A goal seemed certain in the 64th minute. Charlie King played the ball across the box from the left to the awaiting Reg Smith. Somehow, Joe Hanson got a toe in, to knock the ball away to foil a certain goal. Stourport had withstood the pressure and now began to make inroads of their own. Moore shot just wide from a decent position. In the 70th minute, a superb block by Kenny Devoir denied Kosh Sappleton. A minute later, it should have been the opener for Stourport. Gouveia managed to get the wrong side of the Brocton defence, and with only Langston to beat, his shot was inches wide. Devoir again came to Brocton’s rescue with another well timed block to thwart Ewan Carter. It was now all Stourport. Kyle Langston kept the scores level with a wonderful save to deny Carter. Seconds later it was Brocton on the attack, A ball forward from Simcox was laid off to Millington by Reg Smith. Millington played the ball back into Reg Smith who contrived to find space and saw his shot deflected for a corner. Stourport went close again in the 78th minute. A free kick from Isaac Olaleye brought out another good save from Langston underneath his crossbar. The ball was played back in and Devoir’s clearance hit Olaleye and rebounded off the post with the net empty.

Full-time: Stourport Swifts 0 Brocton 0 Attendance: 122

Stourport Swifts: Charlie McNamara, Will Rawlins, Jake Cooper, Perez Andoh-Mills, Joe Hanson, Kosh Sappleton, Dawid Szkwarek (Ewan Carter 62), Billy Moore (Mason Straker 70), Joe Phillips, John Millinchip (Isaac Olaleye 45), Leo Gouveia (Sam Otisi 85). Sub (Not Used): Matt Hanson

Brocton: Kyle Langston, Christian Blanchette (Josh Simcox 45), Cooper Marsh, Kenny Devoir, Ben Haddaway, Charlie King, Morgan Payne (Dylan Millington 58), Jake Thomas, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Jude King (Toby Smith 85). Subs (Not Used): Liam Prendergast, Jake Triggs

Yellow Cards: Hanson, Olaleye, Otisi (Stourport); Marsh, Simcox (Brocton)