Whieldon hat-trick inspires Badgers

Saturday September 20th

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Brocton 6 Wellington 0

After an enforced 10 day break, Brocton returned to action with an FA Vase tie against Herefordshire side Wellington. Brocton were missing Adam Weldon, suspended and Ben Haddaway, injured, with Jake Thomas only fit enough to appear on the bench. Wellington were struggling in the Hellenic league having lost their last 6 league games.

It was the visitors who had the first attempt on goal, Elliott Potter curling a shot over the bar inside the opening 30 seconds. A superb crossfield ball from Connor Haddaway picked out Will Whieldon on the right, His cross was well defended by Wellington. In the 6th minute, a free kick from Whieldon was palmed over the bar by Wellington keeper 16 year old, Reagan Huckin. The Brocton attacks kept coming with Huckin saving well from Reg Smith. Brocton missed a great chance in the 12th minute. A deep corner from Haddaway picked out the unmarked Christian Blanchette but he failed to get any real contact on the header. Brocton were given a gilt edged chance in the 19th minute when Blanchette was fouled in the area by James Hancock. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and brandished a red card to Hancock for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Whieldon stepped up and made no mistake with the penalty. Whieldon attempted a chip from a decent position, but Huckin saved well. Brocton doubled their lead in the 35th minute. Whieldon crossed to the near post; Smith connected and saw his shot rebound off the post. The ball came out to Tom Vaughan who placed the ball into the corner of the net. Brocton continued to press for more. Some excellent football involving five players ended with Haddaway narrowly off target from 20 yards. In stoppage time, an excellent run by Charlie King was blocked for a corner.

Half-Time: Brocton 2 Wellington 0

The second half began with the Brocton bench urging their side to up the intensity. That certainly bore fruition as they extended their lead in the 50th minute. A through ball from Charlie King found Whieldon, who took his time and supplied a cool finish. Goal number four came just four minutes later. Smith picked up a pass forward, spotted Huckin off his line, and placed a shot from 40 yards past the keeper and into the bottom corner. Two minutes later, a shot on the turn from Smith was well saved by the young keeper. He could do nothing in the 58th minute as Brocton made it five. A superb run from Cooper Marsh ended with a pass to Whieldon and he rocked back onto his right foot and beat Huckin with ease for a well-deserved hat-trick. Wellington, to their credit, didn’t lie down and Potter forced an excellent save from Kyle Langston on the hour mark. Brocton had the ball in the net again in the 63rd minute. A delightful ball into the box by Liam Prendergast was headed goalwards by Morgan Payne. Cam Osborne snuck in at the far post to turn it home, but the offside flag had gone up. Back came Wellington and an excellent cross from Potter was met on the volley by Sam Griffiths with the shot inches over the bar. In the 67th minute, the Wellington keeper made an excellent double save. Smith burst through on the right and his fierce shot was well saved. The rebound fell to Payne and Huckin made a wonderful point blank stop. Whieldon fizzed a shot just wide before Potter again had an effort off target for Wellington. In the 76th minute, Huckin made a fine save to deny Marsh who five minutes later had another attempt blocked. Langston made another good save at the other end to deny Lucas Hipwell. In the 88th minute, it should have been six for Brocton. Vaughan met a corner with a firm header which was well saved by Huckin. The rebound fell to Osborne, two yards out, and he somehow managed to clear the bar with the goal at his mercy. A minute later, Brocton did make it six. Dylan Millington played the ball into the path of Smith and calmly lifted the ball over Huckin for his second. Deep into stoppage time, a shot from Payne was saved and Smith picked up the rebound but was again foiled by the excellent Wellington keeper.

Full-Time: Brocton 6 Wellington 0 Attendance:103

Brocton: Kyle Langston, Levi Reid, Cooper Marsh, Kenny Devoir, Tom Vaughan, Charlie King (Dylan Millington 72), Will Whieldon, Christian Blanchette (Cam Osborne 52), Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway (Liam Prendergast 57), Jude King (Morgan Payne 61). Sub (Not used): Jake Thomas

Wellington: Reagan Huckin, Henry Hancocks, Joshua Bryden, James Hancock, Finley Davies, Jayden Makondora (Charlie Jenkins 45), Curt Driscoll (Ashley Lear 64), Elliott Potter (Lewis Protheroe 83), Sam Griffiths (Caden Allport 79), Lucas Hipwell. Sub (Not Used): Marc Crossland-Davies

Sin Bin: Davies (Wellington 77)

Yellow Cards: Marsh, Millington (Brocton); Makondora (Wellington)

Red Card: Hancock (Wellington)