Saturday August 19th
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Cheadle Heath Nomads 0 Brocton 1
Brocton made three changes from the side that beat Market Drayton Town in midweek. Tom Vaughan, Lucas Green-Birch, and Morgan Payne replaced Henry Smith, Christian Blanchette and Declan Arber. Cheadle Heath came into the game on the back of two huge away wins including a 5-0 thrashing of league leaders Abbey Hey in midweek.
Brocton had the ball in the net inside the first minute. Reg Smith picked out Payne who finished from an offside position. Will Whieldon tested home keeper Ryan Forde in the 6th minute, the stopper saving at the second attempt. Whieldon was off target with a snap shot as Brocton dominated the early play. Green-Birch was the next to have an attempt on goal, but his curled effort was high over the bar. Cheadle Heath’s first attack of note came courtesy of Ryan Morton, his cross being cut out by Vaughan. On the half hour mark, Charlie King picked up the ball in the right back position, drove forward evading at least three challenges before the attack fizzled out. A minute later, Jake Thomas was inches wide with a powerful shot. Connor Haddaway cleared the bar with an effort as Brocton continued to ask all the questions. Brocton went close to opening the scoring in the 36th minute. A strong challenge on Smith saw the ball heading goalwards from the defender’s boot. Forde scrambled back and made a superb save, clawing the ball off the line. Cheadle Heath failed to clear their lines and Payne was inches over from the left hand side of the penalty area. Payne was again off target after being set up by Green-Birch. With half-time approaching, Tony Allsopp had to race off his line to clear from Morton. Brocton took the lead two minutes into time added on. A long clearance from Allsopp saw Smith challenge for the ball. It dropped for Payne who finished superbly. Loui Williams saw a shot saved by Allsopp just before the whistle sounded for half time.
Half-Time: Cheadle Heath Nomads 0 Brocton 1
Brocton should have doubled their lead three minutes into the second half. A cross from Connor Haddaway was met on the volley by Payne and the ball drifted agonisingly wide. Three minutes later, a corner from Connor Haddaway fell to Vaughan and his shot was over the bar. Cheadle Heath went close to an equaliser in the 53rd minute. A shot from Morton was blocked for a corner. From the dead ball, the ball came out to Peter Iacovou and his goal bound effort was well saved by Allsopp. Cheadle Heath had the ball in the net four minutes later but the offside flag thwarted Max Pouncey. Great approach play from Brocton created an opening for Whieldon and his shot was brilliantly saved by Forde. From the corner, Smith dragged his shot wide of the far post. A good break from Ewan McGeady created a chance for Morton but his shot was off target. A long throw from Matty Bestall was headed over the bar by Smith. Smith’s power continued to worry the home defence and when he managed to get the wrong side of the defender, Forde was on hand to save his effort. A good run and cross from Adam Weldon saw the ball come out to Green-Birch and his spectacular volley was narrowly off target. The woodwork saved Cheadle Heath in the 74th minute. Smith shot on the turn, and it looked a goal all the way as the ball struck the post and bounced out. Cheadle Heath carried more of a threat in the second half and Mason Warhurst was narrowly off target with a shot. Smith carved open the Cheadle Heath defence with a lovely ball into the path of Blanchette, but his effort was well defended and deflected over the bar. The last chance of the game fell to Thomas whose shot was straight at Forde. Seven minutes of time added on was played out professionally by Brocton who made it three wins and three clean sheets on the bounce.
Full-time: Cheadle Heath Nomads 0 Brocton 1 Attendance:72
Cheadle Heath Nomads: Ryan Forde, Joe Cooney (Dylan Kelly 63), Ewan McGeady, Joel Bailey, James O’Hara, Peter Iacovou (Dylan Woods 80), Loui Williams, Harlan Rodgers-Morris (Mason Warhurst 68), Max Pouncey (Thomas Jones 60), Isaac Modi, Ryan Morton. Sub (Not Used): Kieran Herbert
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Charlie King (Adam Weldon 55), Matty Bestall (Dan Evans 74), Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Lucas Green-Birch, Will Whieldon (Christian Blanchette 670, Jake Thomas, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Morgan Payne (Ben Haddaway 90+1). Sub (Not Used): Will Finlay
Yellow cards: Iacovou, Kelly (Cheadle Heath Nomads; Smith (Brocton)
