Ellesmere Rangers 0 Brocton 3 - A second half brace from sub Cameron Jackson and a fine volley from Adam Weldon sees the Badgers win on the road and pick up 3 deserved points. Match report to follow....
Saturday 21st August
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Ellesmere Rangers 0 Brocton 3 at Beech Grove
Brocton made the journey to Shropshire to tackle unbeaten Ellesmere Rangers with the Badgers buoyed by their midweek win over Abbey Hulton United.
With Jack Arrowsmith unavailable, Malaki Norford came back into the starting eleven. It was Brocton that started the brighter and they should have taken the lead in the 5th minute. Good approach play down the left hand side, gave Brad Rolston space to pick out Adam Weldon overlapping into the penalty area. The pass was perfect, but the finish was too close to keeper Ashley Spittlehouse who made the save. Two minutes later, an excellent cross from Ryan Douglas was headed over by Dean Williams. It was Brocton creating all of the chances and Rolston created an opening for Ben Haddaway whose shot was blocked. Spittlehouse had to rush off his line to save at the feet of Williams. In the 16th minute, Karl Bailey was off target as Ellesmere created an opening. David Howarth was played in by Blake Robinson forcing Corey Mallen into a good save. Rolston was blocked by Ellesmere skipper Owen Lloyd following a direct run. Luke Haddaway and Douglas were both off target as Brocton continued to find space. Ellesmere were close to the opening goal in the 29th minute when Howarth shot on the turn to be denied by an excellent save by Mallen. From the follow up, Kenny Devoir put his body on the line to block an effort. Harvey Lewis was next to shoot on target for the home side, but he also found Mallen in fine form. Both keepers were in excellent form and Spittlehouse made a flying save to deny Ben Haddaway. In the 39th minute, three Ellesmere shots were blocked in the area, and when the ball fell to Robinson, he somehow missed an open goal. In first half stoppage time, Bailey headed wide from a Regan Jones cross, and the half ended all square.
Half-time: Ellesmere Rangers 0 Brocton 0
Brocton started the second half in positive fashion. From a Williams corner, Devoir had a header cleared by the Ellesmere defence. Jake Thomas was wide with an effort after he had been sent free by a header from Adam Weldon. Spittlehouse made a stunning save, flinging himself to his right to claw away a goalbound header from Rolston. Ellesmere responded with the impressive Bailey, with excellent footwork, creating a chance for Lloyd who headed over the bar. Mallen was called into action again to thwart Howarth, with Bailey then shooting wide. The game was end to end and Malaki Norford cut inside from the left and his right footed shot was gathered by Spittlehouse. Rolston broke into the Ellesmere area, the ball fell to Thomas and his shot was blocked for a corner. Ellesmere had a great chance on the hour mark. Lewis got behind Josh Mousley, lobbed Mallen but his effort landed on the roof of the net. In the 64th minute, Bailey beat Mousley down the left, moved into the penalty are only to be stopped by a trip from Mousley. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Carl Rogers stepped up and Mallen continued his excellent form, with a save low down to his left. Brocton responded to that let off with Thomas forcing an excellent save from Spittlehouse, with his header from Adam Weldon’s cross looking like a goal all the way. In the 70th minute, Brocton took the lead thanks to two substitutes. Jack Weldon, in space, hit a fine shot which Spittlehouse could only ush out and Cam Jackson was on hand to tap the ball home, his first touch after coming off the bench. Spittlehouse pulled off another excellent save, when Adam Weldon played the ball to the near post and Jake Thomas’s flick was brilliantly turned away. Ellesmere should have been level in the 76th minute. A ball was whipped across the box, and Bailey, at the far post, managed to put his shot wide. Jack Weldon had a shot blocked before the Badgers doubled their lead in the 81st minute. Jack Weldon picked out Adam Weldon and his volley gave Spittlehouse no chance. Back came Ellesmere and Robinson was foiled by a save from Mallen with the ball loose, a fantastic block by Luke Haddaway and the danger was cleared. Brocton made it three in the 85th minute. Rogers lost the ball on the right hand touch line to Jack Weldon, He played the ball inside to Todd Pryor, who looked up picked out Jackson, who finished clinically. Ellesmere had one more chance which fell to Niall Thomas, but his header was off target and summed up a bad afternoon for the previously unbeaten home side.
Full Time: Ellesmere Rangers 0 Brocton 3 Attendance:72
Ellesmere Rangers: Ashley Spittlehouse, David Howells, Regan Jones (Mark Holdridge 63), Brandon Tanomjit (Ryan Hickman 15), Owen Lloyd, Jack Sweeney, Blake Robinson, Carl Rogers, David Howarth (Niall Thomas 60), Harvey Lewis, Karl Bailey. Subs (Not Used): Connor Courtney, Ben Richards
Brocton: Corey Mallen, Adam Weldon, Malaki Norford, Josh Mousley, Luke Haddaway, Kenny Devoir, Brad Rolston, Jake Thomas, Dean Williams (Cam Jackson 69), Ben Haddaway (Todd Pryor 81), Ryan Douglas (Jack Weldon 60). Subs (Not Used): Ben Powell
Yellow cards: Luke Haddaway (Brocton)
