Tuesday October 10th
Edward Case Cup 1st Round
Brocton 0 Eccleshall 1
Brocton made 7 changes from the side that beat New Mills 10-2 on Saturday. Three of the changes enforced by injuries to Ben Haddaway, Christian Blanchette and Matty Bestall. Into the squad and the starting line-up came Henry Smith and Charlie Marshall into a much changed back four. This was the third meeting between the two teams already this season with Eccleshall holding the edge with a win at Silkmore Lane and a draw at Pershall Park.
Both sides took some time to make inroads into the opposition defences. A quick break from Brocton in the 7th minute created a chance for Morgan Payne but he had drifted offside from Declan Arber’s pass. A cross from Payne drifted past the far post with Aaron Woolrich scrambling to cover. Arber had a decent chance for Brocton, but his effort was blocked by Woolrich on the line. In the 23rd minute, a pinpoint pass from Jake Thomas was played into the path of Cam Osborne. Osborne but inside onto his left foot with his shot blocked by the resolute Eccleshall defence. A minute later, Connor Haddaway won the ball in a strong challenge. The loose ball reached Payne and his shot was well saved by Woolrich. Eccleshall went close in the 26th minute. An excellent cross from the left from Max Raine was inches in front of Mitch Glover in the area. Eccleshall were attacking with pace when the opportunity arose and on the half hour a quick break saw Raine hit a shot straight at Tony Allsopp. Haddaway had a goal bound effort deflected for a corner in the 33rd minute. In the 37th minute. Raine was played into space on the left and his curling stop was acrobatically saved by Allsopp. Allsopp gain kept the scores level five minutes later. Jonathan Kapend sent Raine clear, and Allsopp saved at point blank range. In first half stoppage time, Charlie King was fouled on the edge of the area. Haddaway’s free kick was on target but easily dealt with by Woolrich.
Half-Time: Brocton 0 Eccleshall 0
Four minutes into the second half, good work from Dan Evans created an opportunity for Payne, his shot being blocked. An excellent turn from Glover sent him clear down the right but his cross was overhit. An overlapping run from Evans ended with a cross which was missed in the area by Osborne. Chances for both sides were few and far between with the battle being in the middle of the park. With ten minutes left, Will Whieldon was sent clear down the right but his cross was easily cleared by the Eccleshall defence. Brocton had the ball in the net in the 83rd minute. Reg Smith challenged Woolrich, the ball fell to Payne who tapped home, but the linesman’s flag ruled it out for offside. In the third minute of stoppage time, the visitors took the lead. Brocton conceded a needless free kick on the right hand touch line. Glover whipped in a perfect free-kick and Liam Hallam rose highest to head the ball into the net. Within a minute, Brocton had the chance to level. Reg Smith was felled in the area, the referee pointing to the spot. Haddaway took responsibility and blasted the penalty high over the cross bar. There was no time for Brocton to respond with Eccleshall again being the thorn in the side of their local rivals.
Full-Time: Brocton 0 Eccleshall1 Attendance:149
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Charlie Marshall (Adam Weldon 67), Dan Evans (Jamie Weldon 78), Henry Smith, Tom Vaughan, Charlie King (Lucas Green-Birch 75), Cam Osborne (Will Whieldon 62), Jake Thomas, Declan Arber (Reg Smith 62), Connor Haddaway, Morgan Payne
Eccleshall: Aaron Woolrich, Jordan Darlington (George Woodroffe 69), Liam Hallam, Jordan Benton (Kyle Diskin 76), Jack Warren, Joseph Minshall, Jonathan Kapend (Luke Lewis 69), Callum Feeney, Mitch Glover, Blake Robinson, Max Raine (Josh Beamond 69). Sub (Not Used): Toby Meakin
Yellow cards: Feeney, Minshall (Eccleshall)
