Tuesday 11th October
Staffordshire Senior Cup Round 1
Brocton 1 Foley Meir 2
Brocton were without Reg Smith, Kenny Devoir, Will Finlay and Brad Rolston, all injured in the game at Stockport Town on Saturday. There was some good news for the Badgers with Adam Weldon fit to return on the substitutes bench for the first time since 20th August. Visitors Foley Meir had a tough baptism at Step 6 but had seen major improvement in recent weeks.
It was the visitors that struck first inside 3 minutes. Aiden Lloyd picked up the ball on the left and curled a superb shot past Tony Allsopp from 25 yards. Brocton could have been level within five minutes. A cross from Morgan Payne was headed over by Christian Blanchette. Payne forced a fine save from Andrew Walklate before Charlie King side footed wide following a good ball from Cam Osborne. On 15 minutes, Angel Errico’s shot was straight at Allsopp. An excellent run from Jack Bostock took him past three Foley players. He played a one-two with King and his shot was tipped over the bar by Walklate. Bostock should have done better from the resulting corner, heading over from a perfectly weighted delivery from Connor Haddaway. Brocton were asking all of the questions, but Foley were resolute in defence. Connor Haddaway tried his luck from 40 yards with Walklate aware of the danger and making a comfortable catch. Just before half-time, King won the ball in midfield, shrugged off another challenge before threading the ball through to Payne, the ball being takin off his foot by Sam Nicklin. From the corner taken by Connor Haddaway, Jake Thomas knocked the ball back into the area where a shot was anticipated. In stoppage time, a free kick from Alex Cimino flashed just wide of Allsopp’s goal.
Half-Time: Brocton 0 Foley Meir 1
Brocton had a great chance to level just 20 seconds into the second half. Payne cut the ball back to Connor Haddaway, but his shot ballooned over the bar. Brocton remained on the front foot and finally grabbed the equaliser they deserved in the 57th minute. A ball across the area picked out Weldon whose shot flew into the roof of the net. Following the goal, a melee involving at least a dozen players ended with a booking for Bostock. Bostock headed wide from another Connor Haddaway corner as Brocton continued to waste chances. An excellent ball from Connor Haddaway picked out Osborne who controlled the ball, but the Foley defender stepped him in quickly to clear. In the 74th minute, Brocton went as close as they had to taking the lead. A free kick from Connor Haddaway was punched for a corner by Walklate. The resulting corner was under Walklate’ s bar, the keeper fumbled the ball behind him, and with the majority of the crowd willing the ball over the line, it was hacked clear by the Foley defence. On a rare foray forward, Foley were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. Cimino’s shot was straight at Allsopp. A free kick from Connor Haddaway was tapped short to Thomas but his shot was well off target. In the 90th minute, Thomas was on target, but Walklate was well placed to make the save. Two minutes into time added on, Cimino burst through the middle of the Brocton defence to be blocked by a superb tackle from Bostock. Foley Meir broke Brocton hearts a minute later. Tristen Barker beat two challenges, shot from a tight angle and the ball cannoned off the boot of Ben Haddaway and lifted into the roof of the net.
Full-Time: Brocton1 Foley Meir 2 Attendance:112
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Luke Haddaway (Adam Weldon 45), Jake Triggs, Jack Bostock, Tom Vaughan, Morgan Payne (Mario Novaku 82), Charlie King (Ben Haddaway 82). Jake Thomas, Christian Blanchette, Connor Haddaway, Cam Osborne. Subs (Not Used): Henry Smith, Reg Smith
Foley Meir: Andrew Walklate, David Periera, Sam Nicklin, Jack Gumbley, Miles Johnson (Jay Lovatt 25), Sam Di Marco, Angelo Errico (Jayden Shepherd 67), Tommie Cooke (Jay Finney 90), Tom Wakefield, Alex Cimino, Aiden Lloyd (Tristen Barker 76). Sub (Not Used): Callum Shuttlewood
Yellow Cards: Bostock, Ben Haddaway (Brocton); Nicklin, Di Marco (Foley Meir)
