Saturday 13th August
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Wythenshawe Amateurs 2 Brocton 0
The Badgers welcomed back Tom Vaughan who started in the centre of defence with Jake Triggs dropping to the bench. With both sides unbeaten going into the game, there was an air of expectation in the scorching heat of Hollyhedge Park.
Brocton started positively. A strong run from Adam Weldon saw Ammies keeper Kyle Haslam concede an early corner. The speed of Ammies striker Joe Bevan was all too apparent when a quick break down the right was thwarted by a good clearance from Weldon. Reg Smith went close to opening the scoring in the 9th minute when he spotted Haslam off his line, shot from 40 yards and the ball drifted agonisingly wide. Within a minute, it was the home side who thought they had broken the deadlock. A cross from the left was headed goalward by Gabriel Mooney-Munoz but Tony Allsopp pulled out a flying save to keep the ball out. The end to end nature of the game continued with a mistake in the heart of the Ammies defence. The ball fell invitingly for Smith who took the ball wide allowing his shot to be blocked. The home side had a great chance in the 16th minute. Another powerful run by Bevan teed up Kieran Curtis but his shot cleared the bar. The Ammies were posing more problems than Brocton had seen this season. A superb turn by Bryan Ly sent him clear of Morgan Payne. He curled a shot over Allsopp but narrowly wide of the goal. Considering the oppressive temperature both sides were serving up a competitive game. In the 24th minute, Christian Blanchette did well to win the ball and his low cross was expertly cut out by the imposing figure of Arthur Okonkwo. At the other end of the itch, Jardel Depeiaza shot over the bar from a tight angle. Brocton had a great chance in the 34th minute. A quick break from Smith sent the ball wide to Cam Osborne. He played the ball back to Smith who was off target with the shot. During the move. Blanchette appeared to be pulled back as he raced into the penalty area, but it was not spotted by the officials. On the stroke of half-time the dangerous Bevan was off target after a good run had created an opening.
Half-Time: Wythenshawe Amateurs 0 Brocton 0
Brocton almost broke the deadlock just 26 seconds into the second half. An excellent move saw Smith cross to Osborne, and his header looked certain to hit the net until Haslam pulled off a flying save. Connor Haddaway picked up a loose ball, played in Smith who drove to the line and hit the side netting from a tight position. In the 48th minute the home side were ahead. A superb ball was played into the path of Bevan who turned and hit a superb shot past Allsopp. The goal spurred the home side and only a superb challenge from Weldon stopped Depeiaza running through on goal. The challenge for the Badgers increased immensely in the 54th minute when the Ammies got their second. An incisive through ball from Chris Howard was perfectly weighted for Bevan whose finish was clinical. Depeiaza shot over the bar as the home side looked to finish off the game. A good run from Osborne did not have the end result as his shot was well off the mark. Bevan missed a great chance for his hat-trick, blasting over from a cross by Curtis. Brocton hit the woodwork in the 75th minute. A long throw from Blanchette was not dealt with by the home defence. Jake Thomas overhead kicked the ball back into the area with Smith’s header lopping onto the top of the crossbar. Bevan was hunting a third and after he span past Kenny Devoir, the Brocton skipper battled back to concede a corner. With six minutes remaining. Osborne played the ball into the path of Charlie King but, as with most of his teammates, his shot cleared the bar. Bevan went close again, beating Devoir, turning this way and that, before unleashing a shot which rattled the post. Smith forced another excellent save from Haslam, his low sting shot from 25 yards pushed behind for a corner. Smith’s afternoon ended prematurely when he was shown a straight red card for alleged use of the elbow – s decision which seemed all the more surprising as there was no reaction from anyone on the pitch. With time running out, a delightful chip from Jake Pollard was just over the Brocton bar.
Full-Time: Wythenshawe Amateurs 2 Brocton 0 Attendnce:167
Wythenshawe Amateurs: Kyle Haslam, Chris Howard, Richard Peters, Charlie Duke, Arthur Okonkwo (Arron Hevingham 65), Luke Worth, Kieran Curtis, Gabriel Mooney-Munoz (Joel Aikenhead 65), Joe Bevan, Bryan Ly (Jake Pollard 76), Jardel Depeiaza (Bradley Sullivan 79)
Brocton: Tony Allsop, Adam Weldon, Luke Haddaway (Will Finlay 72), Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Morgan Payne (Charlie King 58), Christian Blanchette, Jake Thomas, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Cam Osborne. Subs (not used): Jake Triggs, Jack Bostock, Lewis Rowley
Yellow Cards: Duke (Wythenshawe); Devoir, Smith, King (Brocton)
Red Cards: Smith (Brocton)
