Tuesday 30th October Coleshill Town v Brocton

Coleshill began full of confidence befitting their league status and recent heavy win, but Brocton were quick to close down and also to find space themselves. On just 3 minutes Dave Berks, giving himself a start in place of the injured Jon Wylde, hit a quick free kick into the path of the alert Andre Campbell, whose shot was smuggled out for a corner.

Campbell was the main early outlet as his pace took him past his marker regularly and he looked dangerous with early crosses.

It was from a Gary Fife corner on 14 minutes that Brocton took their lead when a perfectly placed ball at the far post was headed firmly down into the net by Richard Reeves. The home side pressed hard for an equaliser and they clearly were not too concerned at the slight setback at that point. Mike Shelper was called on to make a smart save in his box after a swift throw out from the home keeper was quickly knocked forward and good first touch and use of body prevented a defensive tackle before a shot could be fired off.

The resulting corner was latched on to by Richard Jones, who set Andre Campbell away on the right. He got beyond his marker once again and his cross could only be blocked for a corner. This time Dave Berks put in the corner and Steve Bennett picked up the attempted clearance and struck a powerful shot for the top left hand corner of the net. Andre Campbell looked to change the direction of the ball, but it flew straight into the net on 38 minutes.

Gary Fife almost finished the half on a real high as he tricked his way past his defender and into the box before pausing just too long and allowing his cross to be cut out.

Came out in the second half clearly determined to put things right, but it was Campbell once again who got beyond the defensive line with the Coleshill keeper reading the danger brilliantly and sprinting well out of his area to sweep away the danger.

The resulting throw into the box was allowed to bounce and Steve Bennett hooked in a shot just over the bar. Bennett was needed moments later in a defensive capacity as he put in a great saving tackle to stop a move through the heart of Brocton’s defence.

Coleshill piled on the pressure and it took all of Brocton’s defensive ingenuity to keep them at bay. A free kick just outside the box and centrally placed could have caused problems, but it sailed harmlessly over the bar. Then Brocton struck back again. A break into the left corner by Steve Bennett won a throw and Bennett got in a shot from the throw, which could only be parried. Dave Berks struck the rebound and it was blocked for a corner. The manager took the corner himself and once again cut out all of the defence to find Reeves powering in at the far post, giving the visitors a healthy 3—0 lead.

Once again Coleshill lifted their game and pressed hard, winning themselves a penalty as Kirk Lowe was adjudged to be at fault as his man went down just inside the box. This was Brocton’s night though and not to be outshone by the standard of his team mates’ performance, Mike Shelper flung himself to his right and held what was a well taken low hard penalty kick.

Andre Campbell gave way to Ben Harrison, Andy Harrison was replaced by Neil Rolston and finally Dave Berks left the field for James Dyke and it to the full credit of these lads that there was no appreciable drop in tempo or of ability. The visitors needed to hold on towards the end, but hold on they did.

Coleshill Town 0 v 3 Brocton

Until that point the visitors had looked the brighter side with Andre Campbell on the right flank drawing a series of fouls from his marker and clearly troubling him for pace. As early as the 5th minute Campbell had raced clear and put in a hard, low cross, but beat everybody including his fellow strikers.

Barnt Green’s lead, gained in the 10th minute, lasted only 5 as Richard Reeves sent a throw deep into the area, which could only be helped on by the defence, who found Gary Fife in space at the far edge of the box. He hit his shot hard and true and Brocton were level.

On 25 minutes, after Andy Harrison had battled through a series of tackles on the left and fed Steve Bennett, Brocton looked set to take the lead, but a brave dive at Bennett’s feet prevented the score. Another huge clearance followed and a shot on the half volley was deflected beyond Mike Shelper, but over the bar for a corner, which Brocton dealt with easily enough. In contrast Jon Wylde put a corner into Gary Fife’s path moments later and Fife struck a fierce shot low and hard, but fortunately for the home side, central and it too was dealt with easily enough.

In the second half Barnt Green continued to look threatening with their mixture of bright movement, good close control and use of the long ball into the channels. But it was Brocton who first came close to scoring with only a trio of superb saves and unbelievable off the line clearances which kept them in the game.

The first of these came as early as 4 minutes into the half when a free kick found its way through the defensive wall. To further confound the keeper, the ball took a deflection and although that reduced the pace, it took a fine late change of direction and excellent save to keep it out. Jonathan Wylde then popped up on the edge of the box and produced a full blooded drive which was headed right for the top left corner of the net. A full length dive from nowhere plucked the ball from the verge of the goal line to touch it out. On 19 minutes a throw was headed on and the downward volley from well inside the box was destined for the back of the net, the keeper beaten, but a fine clearance off the line put the ball out for a corner.

Barnt Green then broke through themselves with a gilt edged chance when Richard Jones, otherwise immaculate at right back, was finally left behind and the cross from the left was true. The ball was collected in the box with only Shelper to beat, but he spread himself and blocked a point blank shot.

Brocton’s injury hit side started brightly and scored through Andy Harrison following up a Steve Bennett shot which was parried by keeper Pete McGuire for him to fire home from 2 yards. Castle Vale were jolted into responding to Brocton’s initial challenge and started to apply their own pressure with good moves across the pitch which saw Michael Shelper charging out of his goal only for the rebound of his attempt to clear falling to Malcolm Power who lobbed his first goal into the open net.

Castle Vale were now moving into another gear with attacking play but were always wary of Brocton’s attacks down the flanks with Miller making some good movement on the left and crossing for the front runners, but all of the attempts were eventually foiled by the Castle Vale defence. Both teams were playing end to end football but it was Castle Vale who increased their lead through Shane Benjamin who again found Shelper out of his goal attempting to clear a dangerous ball at the edge of Brocton’s penalty area.

Bennett appeared the most affective forward for Brocton has he continued to raid down the right side and on a few occasions tested the Castle Vale keeper but his efforts came to nothing.

Brocton were living dangerously at the back and again Benjamin exposed the frailty of the Brocton defence scoring his second goal just before half time with an excellent shot from 20 yards.

The second half started as the first, with Brocton showing some lively moves particularly through Steve Bennett who had keeper McGuire scrambling across his goal and saving a further shot within the first 2 minutes of the re-start. Castle Vale were alerted to Brocton’s early flurry and Benjamin reminded Brocton with a shot against the bar on 65 minutes which was followed by Castle Vale 4^th goal through good work again by Malcolm Power. Brocton’s injury hit defence, as Reeves was now also off the field was clearly exposed in the latter stages of the match and Benjamin added his 3^rd and Castle Vale’s 5^th. Brocton would not lie down however and mounted a rally in the last 10 minutes enabling Neil Rolston to fire in Brocton’s 2^nd goal from inside the penalty area.

Castle Vale 5 v 2 Brocton

In a match with few clear chances it was the visiting team which caught the eye with their sheer determination and enthusiasm. They closed down quickly all over the park and continually refused to allow Brocton any time or space. At the back they were uncompromising, willing to simply clear their lines whenever there was the slightest hint of threat.

Whenever the ball ran loose it was a Heather St. John player inevitably that it ran to, but that was not luck, it was just that their movement was superior and they reacted more quickly than their opponents.

Andre Campbell’s pace down the right threatened to undo the visitor’s high defensive line as early as the fifth minute, when he put in Andy Harrison with an opportunity that he would often have taken. He was denied the moment of time needed to get the ball out of his feet for the shot though and the chance went. Harrison did beat the keeper on ten minutes, hitting the ball towards the back post, where Campbell met it full on the run, but could only turn it into the side netting.

On 12 minutes Jon Biddle collected the ball and thought that he had time to pick out a pass, but immediately he was surrounded and lost possession. Heather St. John made full use of their superiority of numbers and Dean Statham gave Mike Shelper no chance in Brocton’s goal.

Brocton had no shortage of free kicks, but their first threat from one came in the 28th minute when Gary Fife hit one with pace at the far post and Andy Harrison was a whisker away with his head from bringing Brocton level. Fife had the chance of the match himself on 32 minutes when he beat the off side and lobbed an advancing keeper, but missed the target.

With Campbell already replaced by James Dyke, Brocton gave a debut to Kirk Lowe at the heart of their defence, pushing Richard Reeves up into midfield in place of Jonathan Wylde. The move almost paid off immediately as Reeves won the ball in midfield and thundered a pass into Gary Fife in the visitor’s box. Fife brought it down, but was off balance for his shot and the defence was quickly in to clear.

Reeves then repeated the act, but found Andy Harrison this time with his bck to goal. Harrison did well under pressure to hold it and put in James Dyke whose shot across the keeper was well struck, but wide.

Heather St. John posed a threat from corners in particular throughout the game and then followed a series of corners which Brocton had trouble clearing. The fourth was headed out strongly from beneath the far post only for it to rebound from a team mate’s head. As it fell almost on the goal line, once again it was Heather St. John in the shape of Royce Turville, who reacted the quicker and swept it home.

Steve Bennett replaced Ben Harrison and seemed to give Brocton a little more time in possession in attacking areas. He was involved on the hour when the ball was laid into Gary Fife’s feet and his hard low shot squirmed under keeper James Gray’s body to give Brocton a lifeline. James Dyke had yet another volley following good work from Reeves, Lowe and Bennett, but again it went agonisingly wide and right at the death Andy Harrison lined up for a shot well within the area, but could not get it off, claiming a push . But the visitors had deserved their win if only for their hard work.

Saturday 13th October Brocton v Castle Vale

An attacking game from both sides right from the kick off had Brocton with three clear chances within the first five minutes. However, it was the visitors who took the early lead on the stroke of that fifth minute, when Kirk Mara hit a left foot shot beyond Mike Shelper in Brocton’s goal after first riding Matt Skinner’s attempted tackle.

Brocton were soon back in the action and concerted pressure forced Castle Vale to give away a penalty on 25 minutes. James Dyke struck it hard and low to the keeper’s left, but he made a full length save at the foot of his post. Dyke soon made amends though as he struck a shot with perfect technique, keeping knee and head carefully over an awkwardly bouncing ball in the box after Andy Harrison had flicked on a Richard Reeves throw. That was in the 30th minute.

The visitors were not put out of their stride either and proceeded to take back the lead through Mara again as a free kick was held at the edge of Brocton’s box allowing a hard shot on the turn. Shelper was fully behind it, but Mara nipped in with the slightest of touches to poke it beyond Shelper’s reach. Within the minute he had done it again. This time Mara collected the ball himself at the edge of Brocton’s area and turned and struck the best of his three strikes to give Castle Vale a two goal cushion.

At that time Brocton were under the cosh and must have wondered what they could have done differently. Still, believing in their approach soon paid off as Andy Harrison, who had troubled the Vale back line throughout the match, gambled that a high clearance would fall for him. He was right and, despite close marking, was able to thunder a shot low inside the near post to bring Brocton back into contention. Then followed the goal of an extraordinary match as Andre Campbell controlled a difficult pass, turned and struck on the volley a perfect shot past the visitors keeper whilst defenders and team mates alike could do nothing but watch.

The second half could simply not live up to this pace as both teams attempted to tighten up and it seemed clear that although both had half chances, neither could gain a clear opening. It looked as though the next goal would win it for either side.

The opening came to the home side as substitute Steve Bennett showed his poise when in front of goal and slipped the ball beneath an advancing keeper with just 16 minutes of the match remaining.

Castle Vale pressed again, but it seemed that Brocton would hold out. It was Mara’s day though and he popped up with just 7 minutes of the game left with his and his team’s fourth goal of the match. It all came from a Vale throw, taken quickly and making an overlap down the left flank. The cross was deep and beyond all defenders and the return from that flank fell in the area with Mara once again reacting quickest to the loose ball.

Brocton 4 v 4 Castle Vale

The best Brocton could offer in this half was a sustained 5 minute spell just before half time when Highgate conceded two corners but on both counts Brocton could not find the final penetration past a solid defence.

The second half started brighter for Highgate who appeared to be winning more of the ball in the centre of the park but Brocton, playing an open game, gave Highgate cause for concern on their quick breaks up field.

It was Highgate’s turn to force consecutive corners with Shelper making good saves, one at the feet of the Highgate forward Brosman where-as Lee Scott at the other end had a chance on 60 minutes when he attempted to chip the Highgate keeper and was very close at the far post.

Highgate were creating chances and were more effective than Brocton in mid-field but the Brocton defence held firm and Andy Harrison had a one on one chance to put Brocton ahead on 64 minutes , but took too much time allowing the keeper to recover and in the following attack James Dyke struck a low shot which skimmed the outside of the post with the Highgate keeper beaten.

Brocton introduced Ben Harrison and Andre Campbell in an effort to win the game but like the first half the play was end to end. Scott, Campbell and Andy Harrison all had further chances but with Brocton pushing forward Highgate launched an attack and scored the only goal of the match through Chris Hayden on 85 minutes from a rebound after Shelper’s initial save. Shelper again came to Brocton’s aid on 87 minutes when Highgate’s late substitute was bearing down on goal but in the final minute Lee Scott had an opportunity to grab Brocton an equaliser with a header but it skimmed of his head and wide of the post.

Brocton 0 v 1 Highgate United

With just one point between these two teams, this promised to be a close fought encounter and so it proved. Cadbury had the better of the early play with good movement off the ball and an ability and willingness to use the full width of the pitch as they probed for an opening. The Badgers matched the home side for pace however and whilst the back four looked as solid as usual, it was the midfield which stood out for their defensive work.

Andy Harrison was fouled just inside the Cadbury half on 17 minutes and Gary Fife showed how penetrative he can be from free kicks. It was hit across the box and although the keeper was tempted to come, it was too far away. Richard Reeves arrived and timed his jump to perfection as he thumped his header down and home.

Neil Rolston got in a telling cross on 23 minutes, cut out by a defender at full stretch, but the resulting corner was met again by Reeves’ head. The keeper was well placed and his legs prevented a repeat of the earlier result. Just two minutes later with Brocton now in full flow, another Gary Fife free kick, this time just inside the near post, had Andy Harrison a whisker away from glancing it in.

Cadbury were never out of the action for long and it was Mike Shelper who next needed his legs to keep out a shot on goal after a well worked overlap on the right. Shelper then found Steve Bennett with a mighty kick and Bennett controlled and found Ben Harrison almost in one move. Harrison got in a shot on goal and the Cadbury keeper blocked well at his near post.

The home side got their reward just before the break from a huge clearance when Williams allowed it to strike his foot just before the ball bounced and as the ball rose invitingly spun and shot in a single movement fully thirty yards from goal. Shelper scrambled across, having seen the danger of the looping shot late, but was unable to keep it out.

Brocton picked up the gauntlet in the second period and it took the woodwork to deny Andy Harrison from the first meaningful action of the half. A fine acrobatic save from Cadbury’s keeper then kept him out once again on 55 minutes when Harrison’s turn and shot was well directed inside the post, but just scuffed enough to give the home keeper a chance.

On 17 minutes it was Matt Skinner who set things in motion along the left touch line, finding Gary Fife in midfield, who quickly put the ball into the run of Neil Rolston. His shot bringing another excellent full length save form the keeper, although he could only fend it away and Rolston himself had a second bite but found the top of the net above the bar with all the visiting crowd willing it to be in.

The visitors continued to find scoring opportunities and thought that they had earned a penalty but a well placed referee waved away appeals. Jonathan Wylde then fell awkwardly and despite making a brief return to the field after treatment to his shoulder, had to come off; his replacement, Rich Miller, showing Brocton’s attacking intent.

Cadbury’s own attacking movement and intent played a full part in a high quality game and the home side had a glorious opportunity to pitch all the points late in the second half, when a move down the right produced a low shot come cross which had Mike Shelper save full length, but Brocton were able to clear. Then almost at full time, Brocton’s team spirit was epitomised by Andy Harrison, when he popped up in the left back position to help ensure that the Badgers kept at least their hard won point.

Cadbury Athletic 1 v 1 Brocton