Midland League Division 1
Tuesday 15th September 2020
Atherstone Town 1 Brocton 1
A shout for handball in the penalty box set hearts fluttering but it was an Atherstone forward committing the offence and the Badgers could breathe safely. Brocton raided at the other end and a session of head tennis in the home box ended with a volley over the bar from Dan Lomas.
Lomas was involved again on five minutes and his touch on for Matt Kimmins would have given the Badgers a numerical advantage but Kimmins was beaten to the touch. The long game of the hosts was controlled and the two speed merchants on either flank, Isa Abrahams and Thabang Dube were willingly making those runs to the bye line. Not all were successful, but there was danger whenever the ball was put behind Brocton’s back line.
Josh Mousley in particular for the Badgers had to put in an excellent shift as he kept pace with Abrahams and had enough composure to get a good tackle in time after time to quell the threat.
Alex Naughton performed wonders despite being surrounded by Brocton defenders and with a lob over his own head and a shrug of his shoulders, shed his markers and left himself with only Henry Smith to beat. Unaccountably he blazed his hot wide. When Naughton broke free again moments later, once again he was quickly surrounded and this time the defence held firm.
At the other end Matt Kimmins was having his best game of the season and raised his team’s hopes as he squirmed along the left bye line into the box, his shot being blocked at the near post.
Brocton had safely negotiated the first half but Atherstone came out in determined mood and powered forward straight from the kick off, seemingly overwhelming their visitors and taking the lead just 2 minutes into the half with a shot from distance from Ryan Quinn which beat Smith low down at the post.
The floodgates could have opened then, but Brocton weathered the initial storm and had some attacking moments themselves. Ash Greg knew his team were in trouble and cynically tripped Kimmins from behind to save a possible goal threat. Justice was done immediately though as the free kick was converted by Alex Scott to bring the Badgers level.
The game opened up then with Attherstone stung into all out attack and Brocton getting more joy when they broke out. However it was the visitors who threw bodies on the line with block after block and aided with some uncharacteristic wayward shooting from their hosts, hung on for an unlikely draw.
Brocton: Henry Smith, Adam Weldon, Josh Mousley, Jamie Weldon, Alex Scott, Jack Partridge, Matt Kimmins, Jake Thomas, Dan Lomas, Jack Weldon, Owen Nolan.
Used Subs: Ben Wood, Will Heath, Ben Haddaway.
