Saturday 21st December
Midland Football League Premier Division
Brocton 3 OJM Black Country 1
Brocton were forced into three changes from the side that drew with league leaders Lichfield City. Ben Haddaway, Dan Evans, and Jake Thomas were all unavailable and they were replaced in the starting line-up by Cooper Marsh, Kenny Devoir and Cam Osborne. There was a welcome return to the squad for Seb Conaghan, back from University for the holidays. OJM Black Country had made a steady start in their first season at Step 5 and were looking to move into the top half of the table.
The first effort on goal came from Brocton with Osborne seeing his shot blocked. The early stages were dominated by the visitors who had settled into the game. In the 19th minute, Haddaway whipped in a cross from the right and it was punched clear by Tom Clapp. Brocton had a great chance to open the scoring in the 23rd minute. Will Whieldon hit the target, but Clapp pulled off a full length save. The ball came out to Osborne and his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner. Charlie King was tripped on the edge of the area in the 26th minute. Whieldon lined up the free kick, but it was straight at Clapp. Brocton went close in the 31st minute. A raking ball from Tom Vaughan picked out Reg Smith and his first time volley was saved on the line by Clapp with the home players and supporters saying it had crossed the line (later photographic evidence proved that it hadn’t). Brocton were gradually gaining some ascendancy. Clapp was again called into action, acrobatically palming away a fierce shot from Smith. Haddaway whipped in another fine cross from the right, with OJM skipper Brian Smikle clearing well. OJM took the lead in the 37th minute. Finn Jones shot, the ball taking a deflection past Tony Allsopp. The linesman flagged for offside but after consultation with the referee, the goal stood. As the half drew to a conclusion, Christian Blanchette fired high and wide following a good pass from Smith. Whieldon almost missed the target, his snap shot just over.
Half time: Brocton 0 OJM Black Country 1
With the management team’s words still in their ears, Brocton levelled the score in the 49th minute. Blanchette’s shot ricocheted into the path of Smith who buried the ball into the bottom corner. The rise in intensity from Brocton was clear to see and OJM struggled to keep the home side in check. In the 54th minute, a shot from Haddaway was deflected for a corner. From Haddaway’s corner, Smith powered home a header to give Brocton the lead. Brocton were now well on top with the midfield getting a grip of the game which they had failed to do in the first half. Whieldon was eager to continue his run of goalscoring form and he forced a save from Clapp before seeing another shot blocked. In the 70th minute, Jones hit a free kick over the bar for OJM, who were still very much in the game. In the 79th minute, Whieldon forced another good save from Clapp. A minute later, Allsopp raced off his line but could only find Louis Conway with his clearance. Conway aimed goalwards but his connection was poor, and his shot was well wide. In the 82nd minute, Lucas Green-Birch saw his shot saved. Blanchette was then played in on goal only to be denied by the feet of Clapp. Brocton were not to be denied and when Whieldon found himself in space, he side footed a shot into the corner past the despairing dive from Clapp. OJM were unlucky not to get a second with three minutes remaining. A superb cross from Kofi Williams was met on the volley by Reece Morris and his shot cannoned off the cross bar with Allsopp well beaten. That was to be OJM’s last chance and Brocton made it thirteen games unbeaten as they head into the Christmas fixtures.
Full time: Brocton 3 OJM Black Country 1 Attendance:115
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Cooper Marsh, Josh Simcox, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Charlie King, Will Whieldon (Seb Conaghan 86), Christian Blanchette (Jude King 86), Reg Smith (Toby Smith 90+1), Connor Haddaway, Cam Osborne (Lucas Green-Birch 30). Sub (Not Used): Ben Hackett
OJM Black Country: Tom Clapp, Brian Smikle, Louis Conway, Stef Cameron, Callum Nimmo, Nathan Walker, Finn Jones (Mike Nelson 78), Liam Spink (Romehl Critchlow 66), Reece Morris, Casey Collins (Jarrell Hylton 86), Leslie Omorodion (Kofi Williams 80). Sub (Not Used): Adam Keogh
Yellow Cards: Marsh, Charlie King (Brocton); Conway, Collins (OJM)
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