Ten man Badgers slip up again

Saturday September 6th

Capelli Sport MFL Premier Division

Brocton 0 Coton Green 2

Brocton made one change from the side that beat Uttoxeter last time out. Jake Thomas replaced Kenny Devoir with Ben Haddaway reverting to his central defensive pairing with Tom Vaughan. Coton Green, promoted from Step 6 last season, had started the season with ten points from their opening five games.

In the early stages, the strong wind gusting around Silkmore Lane was making things difficult for both sides. The first attack of note came from Coton Green. An excellent piece of control from James Henry saw him run down the right touch line and his cross hit the stanchion of the goal. Brocton’s first chance fell to Connor Haddaway who hit a twenty yard effort over the bar. Coton Green were awarded a free kick in a good position in the 18th minute, but Todd Sherwood’s attempt was way over the bar. Dean Morris went close for the visitors hitting a fierce shot from thirty yards which just cleared the cross bar. Coton Green continued to have the better of the game and when Kyle Langston dropped a corner. Ben Haddaway was on hand to clear the resulting shot off the line. At the other end, a cross from Thomas was cut-out at the near post and when Charlie King played the ball back in, it was defended by Osazee Osas, Brocton should have taken the lead a minute before the break. The King brothers combined well down the left with Charlie crossing low to Christian Blanchette. Blanchette missed his kick, with the goal at his mercy, and the ball drifted wide. Four minutes into added time, Morris was fortunate to only receive a yellow card following a two footed challenge on Thomas.

Half-Time: Brocton 0 Coton Green 0

The second half started with no improvement on the first. A heavy ball from Connor Haddaway appeared to be too far in front of Blanchette but he reached it and saw his cross just drift away from the goal. The first clear cut chance of the half fell to Henry who screwed his shot over the bar in the 69th minute. Brocton were reduced to ten men in the 72nd minute when Adam Weldon was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Thomas Kinsey. The referee pointed to the spot but after consulting his linesman, awarded a free kick outside the box. The free kick was allowed to be placed five yards to the centre from where the incident took place which gave Morris the perfect angle to fire home off the inside off both posts. In the 82nd minute, substitute Liam Prendergast bundled into Tyrike Richards-Burke in the area with the referee again pointing to the spot. Morris again stepped up and gave Langston no chance. Brocton should have pulled a goal back two minutes later. Will Whieldon robbed the defender played the ball inside to Reg Smith who side footed wide. Two minutes into added time, a volley from Cooper Marsh was brilliantly saved by Lewis Landers, his first save of the game. Brocton never looked like getting back into the game as Coton Green maintained their fantastic start to the season.

Full-Time: Brocton 0 Coton Green 2 Attendance: 131

Brocton: Kyle Langston, Levi Reid (Liam Prendergast 52), Adam Weldon, Ben Haddaway (Cooper Marsh 45+1), Tom Vaughan, Charlie King, Christian Blanchette (Will Whieldon 62), Jake Thomas, reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Jude King (Cam Osborne 75). Sub (Not Used): Dylan Millington

Coton Green: Lewis Landers, Osazee Osas (Jay Lionga 49), Tyrike Richards-Burke, Dean Morris, Matt Hunt, Aris Christophorou, Corey Powell (Luke Fox 87), Todd Sherwood (James Douglas 77), Thomas Kinsey, James Henry (Adam Nazir 84), Joshua Beeson (Zak Harbron 42)

Yellow Cards: Weldon, Smith (Brocton); Morris, Harbron (Coton Green)

Red Cards: Weldon (second yellow)