Tuesday 15th August
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Brocton 3 Market Drayton Town 0
Brocton made two changes from the side that won at New Mills at the weekend. Charlie King and Christian Blanchette, after impressive substitute appearances on Saturday, came into the starting line-up with Ben Haddaway and Lucas Green-Birch taking their place amongst the replacements. Market Drayton came into the game unbeaten after four games since their relegation from Step 5. They included Matt Cutler, a member of last season’s successful Brocton Under 18 side, in their starting eleven.
Brocton started on the front foot, Will Whieldon chipping Joshua Hyde but clearing the crossbar. In the 3rd minute, a powerful defensive header from Kenny Devoir picked out Declan Arber, He fed Whieldon who screwed his shot wide. Brocton’s pace up front was causing problems for the Market Drayton defence. A long clearance from Tony Allsopp was superbly controlled by Reg Smith and his shot was inches over the bar. Arber was the next to try his luck, but his volley was well wide of the target. A quick break from Brocton ended with Connor Haddaway unable to keep his shot down. In the 15th minute, Reg Smith beat the offside trap, and played the ball inside to Connor Haddaway. The Brocton skipper chose to pass to Christian Blanchette instead of shooting, and the chance was gone. Brocton continued to dominate the play. An excellent ball from Jake Thomas into the penalty area was inches away from a desperate lunge from Connor Haddaway. Reg Smith and Whieldon combined on the edge of the penalty area to be thwarted by a fine defensive clearance from Nathan Brayford. Market Drayton’s first real sight of goal came in the 39th minute when a cross from Cutler drifted wide of the far post. Two minutes later, a shot from Connor Haddaway was deflected forcing Hyde to arch his back to palm the ball away. The Market Drayton skipper Nicky Parker had carried a threat for the visitors and a shot on the turn was into the side netting. Into stoppage time, Thomas Messham had an opening for the visitors, but his shot was miles wide.
Half-Time: Brocton 0 Market Drayton Town 0
The first chance of the second half fell to Market Drayton. Parker played Ryan Taylor into space and his shot was blocked by Devoir. Brocton opened the scoring in the 49th minute. Connor Haddaway delivered a corner into the penalty area and Henry Smith rose above the defence to power home a header. Brocton had a chance to make it two moments later with Morgan Payne heading wide from a cross from Thomas. In the 54th minute a shot from Reg Smith was blocked. Market Drayton broke away, but Daniel Churm’s finish was weak. Brocton doubled their lead in the 55th minute. A clearance cannoned into Arber. Reg Smith picked up the loose ball and crossed low for Payne to tap the ball home. Whieldon won the ball in a strong challenge, but his shot was over the bar. In the 61st minute, Taylor went down very easily on the edge of the penalty area, but it was enough to convince referee Ryan Davies who awarded a free kick. Connor Dunne took the free-kick, and it cannoned off the wall to safety. The game was flowing end to end. Matty Bestall saw an effort blocked while Parker headed wide from a Churm cross. Brocton went close in the 81st minute. Green-Birch shot from just inside the area and the slightest of deflections took it past the post. Payne, impressing as a second-half substitute, spun his defender, raced into the gap and his shot was well saved by Hyde. Brocton made it three, a minute into time added on. Reg Smith again beat his defender, crossed low for Thomas to find the back of the net, his shot hitting a defender on the way in. Thomas and Reg Smith had further attempts on goal before the referee signalled the end of the game and a comfortable win for Brocton.
Full-Time: Brocton 3 Market Drayton Town 0 Attendance:148
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Charlie King, Matty Bestall, Kenny Devoir, Henry Smith, Will Whieldon (Lucas Green-Birch 75), Christian Blanchette (Morgan Payne 45), Jake Thomas, reg Smith, Connor Haddaway (Ben Haddaway 68), Declan Arber (Tom Vaughan 60). Sub (Not Used): Cam Osborne
Market Drayton Town: Joshua Hyde, Oliver Torjussen (Cameron Dourish 56), Matthew Cutler, Alfonso Castellano, Nathan Brayford, Freddie Bishton, Daniel Churm (Owen Jackson 72), Jacob Welch (Connor Dunne 56), Nicky Parker, Thomas Messham, Ryan Taylor. Subs (Not Used): Adam Shillcock, Kieran Brisbourne
Yellow Cards: Thomas, Green-Birch (Brocton)
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