Highgate United 2 Brocton 3
Midland Premier League Match 1
The Badgers opened their return to the Midland Premier League with a tricky tie away at Highgate United. An away fixture well remembered by the Badger faithful, but with added importance given our first game back in Step 5 after a long absence. Both teams opened trying to get control of the midfield on a slow pitch, but the boys in green settled the fastest and opened the scoring on 8 minutes. A corner from the left had side saw the Haddaway’s combining with Connor on corner duties but Ben Haddaway finding himself unmarked, heading back across goal and ball floating into the Gate net. The goal awakened the Gate with intensity stepping up, snapping at the Badger heels, reminding the new boys of the Step 5 pace needed. The hosts equalised on 21 with Mandey set free, no offside flag raised despite the protests from the Badger bench, and he slotted it home under Allsopp. At this point, Highgate were dominating the middle in a ragged match where both sides were giving the ball away cheaply with little rhythm from either side. Just before half time, a pass back to Allsopp saw the striker place Tony under pressure, as he dived onto the ball, pushing it onto the striker, he also gathered the ball. An indirect free kick was awarded by the referee, despite the strikers touch. However, Gate couldn’t make the most of the chance and Allsopp saved to deny another home team goal. With the half almost over, the Badgers jumped into the lead. A long clearance from Allsopp found his partner-in-crime Reg Smith. A smart turn on the ball freed Reg up to lay off to Christian Blanchette, who finished low across the keeper for a 2-1 lead right on half time.
Half time gave the chance for the management team to gather themselves together and the second half started brighter for the Badgers. Better passing, better use of the ball and stepping up back to the more physical Midland League. The new pressure saw the Gate keeper pull down Reg Smith right on the by line to earn a yellow, but on 66 minutes the Badgers extended their lead. Lucas Green-Birch, on for the injured Charlie King, through on goal, forced the keeper into a save. The rebound fell back to Green-Birch, who spotted Blanchette completely free in front of goal. A pass to his right found Blanchette who rocketed the ball into the roof of the empty net from 10 yards out. The Badgers up 3-1 and largely in control now. However, nothing can be taken for granted at Midland League Premier and a free gift saw the hosts peg the Bagders back. Ben Haddaway, dealing with an innocuous long ball under pressure, passed back to Adam Weldon. Adam turned to pass the ball back to Allsopp but underestimated the pace of the pitch and
simply didn’t add enough speed. Osei seized on the ball and shot past Tony’s right hand side to make the game 3-2. The game descended into a long ball onslaught from Highgate asking questions of Tom Vaughan and now Kenny Devoir on as a substitute, but every ball the pair dealt with calmly. A couple of half chances for Cam Osbourne and Reg Smith didn’t trouble the Gate goal, but the game closed out at 3-2.
A good test for the team in the return to Step 5, but a win on the road and definitely good value for it.
Team
Allsopp, Weldon, Marshall, B Haddaway, Vaughan, King, Thomas, C Haddaway, R Smith, Payne, Blanchette.
Subs Used
Green-Birch (King), Osbourne (Payne), Devoir (Blanchette)
Subs Not Used
T Smith, Russell.
Goals: B Haddaway, Blanchette (2)
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