Home point for the Badgers

Tuesday 12th August

Capelli Sport MFL Premier Division

Brocton 1 Stone Old Alleynians 1

Brocton were forced into changes following the draw at Northwich Victoria at the weekend. Morgan Payne (injured) and Cooper Marsh (ill) were replaced by Liam Prendergast and Toby Smith in the starting line-up. Stone had started the season with a win over Studley and were looking to back that up at Silkmore Lane.

The early stages gave a clear indication of Stone’s game plan – play the ball long to Jack Tomlinson and try and feed off the scraps, together with long throws into the box, which remained their strategy throughout. Brocton had the game’s first attempt. A superb cross from Prendergast was headed wide by Jude King. In the 19th minute, a shot from Connor Haddaway was held by Raajan Gill. Moments later, King burst through into the area, rounded Gill and went down. With the majority of the crowd clamouring for a penalty, referee Saeed Ahmed instead produced a yellow card for King for, the modern terminology of, simulation! Brocton continued to look the most likely. Prendergast was having a fine game at right back and he combined with Connor Haddaway to set up King, and his shot was half blocked before being saved by Gill. Jake Danan was next to try his luck, firing over after a driving run. In the 38th minute, Stone skipper Matt Thomas lost control of the ball and Toby Smith picked it up and ran down the right. He squared the ball into the path of King, but his shot was too high. A mistake at the back by Tom Vaughan saw him lose possession to William Holt, and he forced Kyle Langston into a good save. Toby Smith had a shot blocked for a corner. Deep into stoppage time, a delightful ball into the box from Connor Haddaway was inches away from picking out Toby Smith.

Half-Time: Brocton 0 Stone Old Alleynians 0

The second half continued as the first had ended with Brocton having more of the play, In the 51st minute, a free kick from Connor Haddaway was missed in the area with green shirts aplenty on hand. Seven minutes later, a ball from the left from Cam Osborne was dealt well with by Gill. The introduction of Reg Smith lifted the crowd and gave the Stone defence something different to think about. In the 70th minute, a shot on the turn from Reg Smith was over the bar. Within a couple of minutes, Reg Smith was played in, took the ball on his right foot rather than shoot with his left, played himself into traffic but still got a shot away to force the save from Gill. Stone were looking more confident in their attacking play and Langston made a fine save to keep out a stinging effort from Holt. Brocton’s best chance of the game came in the 80th minute. Dylan Millington played the ball perfectly into the path of King and his shot was well saved by Gill. Within two minutes, Stone took the lead. A stray pass across the box from Vaughan found Holt. He squared the pass to Tomlinson who fired home into the far corner. Brocton needed a response and quick. In the 86th minute, another Connor Haddaway free kick was missed by Kenny Devoir in a great position. The ball ricocheted round and Millington’s header was cleared off the line. Ben Haddaway hammered a volley goalwards which was also cleared off the line before Jake Thomas was played in behind the Stone defence and he slid the ball past Gill into the net. It was nothing less than Brocton deserved, and they will feel hard done to knock to take all three points.

Full-Time: Brocton 1 Stone Old Alleynians 1 Attendance:182

Brocton: Kyle Langston, Liam Prendergast (Levi Reid 55), Jake Danan (Archie Russell 90), Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Ben Haddaway, Toby Smith (Dylan Millington 69), Jake Thomas, Jude King, Connor Haddaway, Cam Osborne (Reg Smith 65). Sub (Not Used): Jack Sandel

Stone Old Alleynians: Raajan Gill, Joe Baxter, Dale Taylor, Luke Askey, Josh Sedgley, Ryan Keeley, Harrison Harper, Josh Goodwin (William Holt 17), Jack Tomilnson, Liam Connolly, Matt Thomas (Alex Harrision 85). Subs (Not Used): Dorain Jedrzejczyk, Freddie Wood, David Harper

Yellow Cards: King, Thomas (Brocton)