A very impressive away draw for the Badgers with a very different back line. The gaffer hits the equaliser via the penalty spot in the second half.
Saturday 18th December
North West Counties Football League First Division South
Wythenshawe Amateurs 1 Brocton 1
Brocton travelled to high-flying Wythenshawe Amateurs without the services of last week’s entire starting back four. In came Brad Rolston, Luke Haddaway, Kenny Devoir and Christian Blanchette in a reshuffled line-up. The home side included William Shawcross who had scored a hat-trick against the Badgers for Cheadle Heath Nomads earlier in the season.
It was Shawcross that created the first opening of the game, picking out Kieran Curtis but poor control saw the ball out of play. In the 7th minute, Eddie Brown managed to get the wrong side of the Badgers defence, but they responded and managed to crowd him out. A minute later Blanchette saw his shot saved by Kyle Haslam and when the Badgers resumed their attack Rolston was fouled on the edge of the area. Alex Curtis’ free-kick was on target and saved by the legs of Haslam. Shawcross was finding plenty of space for Wythenshawe with a floated effort over the cross bar. Reg Smith thought he had set up Cameron Osborne, but the offside flag stopped the move. The home side took the lead in the 16th minute. A cross from Brown on the left picked out the giant figure of Saul Henderson who placed his header into the corner of the net. The goal galvanised the home side and Brown was unlucky when his shot was deflected for a corner. From the resulting corner the ball came out to Gabriel Mooney-Munoz, but Devoir was on hand to block his effort. The end to end nature of the game continued with Smith seeing a free-kick cannon off the wall for a corner. Smith was causing the Wythenshawe defence plenty of problems and he was off target with another firm drive. Brown opened up the Brocton defence, playing the ball into the path of Henderson, but the striker took too long allowing the Brocton defence time to block his effort. A quick break from the home side left Shawcross in space but the approach play was somewhat ruined with a tame shot into the arms of Tony Allsopp. An excellent cross from Connor Haddaway evaded the Wythenshawe defence and Osborne was inches away from connecting. Back cam Wythenshawe with Allsopp saving well from Henderson and Brown firing high over the bar. Wythenshawe finished the half strongly with some neat play around the Brocton box, Brown’s shot being touched wide for a corner, which came to nothing.
Half-Tine: Wythenshawe Amateurs 1 Brocton 0
The second half began perfectly for Brocton. Thirty seconds into the half, Smith knocked the ball over Haslam who brought down the striker. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Curtis stepped up, and although the penalty was not convincing, it ended in the net for a Brocton equaliser. Brocton were now on the front foot and a near post cross from Connor Haddaway was well gathered by Haslam. On the hour mark, Wythenshawe were reduced to ten men when Solomon Wickstead was shown a second yellow charge for a pull back on Blanchette. Shawcross was the Wythenshawe man finding space, but his finishing lacked quality and another effort was straight into the hands of Allsopp. Brocton were close to a second in the 66th minute. Smith beat Haslam but could not get any contact on the ball to shoot on goal, winning a corner instead. Brocton should have taken the lead a minute later. A perfect cross from Connor Haddaway picked out Devoir who put his header wide, when unmarked. Brocton were dominating the game at this stage and Smith was narrowly wide after being set up by a lovely ball from Ben Haddaway. Henderson was always a threat to the Brocton defence with his hight and Allsopp was on hand to save comfortably from another header. Brocton responded with an effort from Connor Haddaway which was just wide. Excellent football from Brocton created a great chance for Osborne but he shot over when he should have tested Haslam at least. Smith whipped a low ball to the near post where Blanchette beat his defender but couldn’t turn the ball home. The ten men were still striving for a winner themselves and a cross from Chris Howard was met by the head of Henderson with Allsopp making a decent save. There was almost a bizarre own-goal when Devoir volleyed a Wythenshawe free-kick towards his own net with Allsopp on hand to save his blushes. With five minutes left, Brocton again cut through the home defence, Smith finding Jake Thomas who forced a block from Haslam. Alex Curtis had a shot deflected for a corner before the action switched to the other end. Henderson intercepted a poor clearance form Allsopp. He teed up Shawcross and Allsopp redeemed himself with a fine save. A minute into time added on, Henderson was through on goal, but Allsopp made an excellent save to maintain parity. The final chance of the game fell to Thomas, two minutes into time added on. In space, Thomas picked his spot but failed to keep the ball down and the chance went begging.
Full-Time: Wythenshawe Amateurs 1 Brocton 1 Attendance:142
Wythenshawe Amateurs: Kyle Haslam, Chris Howard, Richard Peters, Charles Duke, Luke Worth, Soloman Wickstead, Kieran Curtis, Gabriel Mooney-Munoz (Richard Gresty 63), Saul Henderson, Edward Brown, William Shawcross. Subs (Not Used): Samuel Dickov, Erion Bujupi, Bruno Da Silva, Dylan Walker
Brocton: Tony Allsopp, Brad Rolston (Jed Davies 63), Alex Curtis, Luke Haddaway, Kenny Devoir, Ben Haddaway (Cam Jackson 85), Christian Blanchette, Jake Thomas, Reg Smith, Connor Haddaway, Cameron Osborne. Subs (Not Used): Ethan Scutt
Yellow Cards: Duke, Wickstead (Wythenshawe), Davies (Brocton)
Red Cards: Wickstead (Wythenshawe)
