Saturday 15th January 2022
North West Counties Football League First Division South
St Martin’s 0 Brocton 5
Brocton made two changes from the side that beat high-flying Abbey Hey last weekend. Into the starting line-up came Jed Davies and Cam Jackson with Christian Blanchette and Cameron Osborne dropping to the subs bench. St Martin’s were looking to pick just their third point of the season after a torrid campaign to date.
It was the home side that made the first impression with Tom Vaughan putting in a strong challenge in the penalty area to stop Alberto Canache. Brocton had a decent opportunity in the 5th minute when Connor Haddaway found space, but his delivery was poor, and the chance was lost. Reg Smith went close for the Badgers in the 10th minute, hooking a near post cross from Connor Haddaway over the bar. St Martin’s were closing down well and playing a high line which saw Brocton caught offside on a regular basis. In the 26th minute a free-kick from Connor Haddaway was flicked on by Smith but Jake Eastwood made a comfortable save. Tony Allsopp was forced into a fine save moments later when he dived to his left to keep out on effort from Callum Murphy. Brocton took the lead in the 28th minute. A long clearance from Allsopp was latched onto by Smith, who shrugged off the challenge of Daniel Cande and fired low past Eastwood. Davies found space down the right, but his cross landed on the roof of the net. St Martin’s went close to an equaliser when Owen Robinson met a free-kick from the left and flicked his effort over the bar. Brocton wasted a glorious chance in the 38th minute. Jake Thomas ran free down the right hand side, but with Smith in acres of space, his cross was behind the striker.
Half-Time: St Martin’s 0 Brocton 1
Brocton doubled their lead in the 49th minute and it was a finish to grace any game at any level. A long free-kick from Kenny Devoir was met first time on the volley by Smith and his right-footed effort flew into the top corner giving Eastwood no chance. Brocton were now fully on the front foot. A right wing cross from Davies was met by the head of Ben Haddaway but he couldn’t keep the header down. Jackson was the next to find space and his low ball in from the left was cut out by keeper Eastwood. It was almost three in the 55th minute when Davies’ shot to the near post saw Eastwood pull off a fine save. A minute later and it should have been three. Davies’ cross was met by Jackson running onto the ball but inexplicably he put his effort wide of the post. On a rare foray forward, Robinson was off target with an effort for the home side. Brocton made it three in the 58th minute. Thomas ran free down the left, drove into the area and slotted past Eastwood. Brocton continued to press for goals and an excellent run and cross from Blanchette was cut out by Eastwood. Ben Haddaway then forced another good save from the St Martin’s keeper. Brocton made it four in the 65th minute. Connor Haddaway beat the St Martin’s offside trap crossed low into the box and Smith finished with a deft side foot for his hat-trick. A good run by Blanchette ended with a shot which just skimmed the bar. Smith went close to a fourth when he flicked his effort wide following more good work by Blanchette. In the 85th minute, a cross from Davies was well met by Thomas whose header rattled the bar. The ball came out to Ben Haddaway whose shot was superbly saved by Eastwood. In stoppage time, Brocton finally scored their fifth of the afternoon. Davies threading the ball into the path of Ben Haddaway and his finish from the left hand side of the penalty area was superb.
Full-Time: St Martin’s 0 Brocton 5 Attendance:40
St Martin’s: Jake Eastwood, Claudio Santos, Joshua Aubrey-Williams, Daniel Cande, Kai Hurdman, Owen Robinson, Daniel Harrington (Dylan Murphy 79), Jonathan Wilkes, Alberto Canache, Callum Murphy, Elson Fernandes (Max Sullivan 40 (Tomos Otter 62))
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Brad Rolston, Dan Evans, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Ben Haddaway, Jed Davies, Jake Thomas, Reg Smith (Luke Haddaway 79), Connor Haddaway (Ethan Scutt 70), Cam Jackson (Christian Blanchette 62). Subs (Not Used): Keiren Nelson, Cameron Osborne
Yellow Cards: Wilkes, Murphy (St Martin’s), Blanchette (Brocton)
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