Brocton v Cadbury Athletic November 24th November 24, 2007
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Andy Harrison almost set up a perfect start for Brocton in the 9th minute of this nail biter of a match when he held the ball on the right of Cadbury’s box before turning and crossing high over the keeper. A fingertip at full stretch was just enough to take it away from goal and to safety.Harrison was found tracking back just 3 minutes later and he won the ball and immediately put in a fine pass in front of Neil Rolston free on the left, but it had too much pace on it for Rolston to catch. Rolston was again in the action on 18 minutes when he won a corner after Dave Langston had cleared from the back right into his path. Cadbury were by no means on the back foot though and broke quickly and threateningly, winning a corner for themselves, which was cleared by the home side, setting up their own break.Neither side could quite force a decisive opening, though it was the home side in this period who went closest when Andy Harrison worked himself free on the left and crossed low and hard to the far post, where James Dyke met the ball at full stretch, only to hit the side netting.Harrison finally got the ball into the net on 32 minutes when great work down the right by Neil Rolston gave him time and room to set up Richard Reeves for a penetrating cross, which Harrison met on the full and side footed into the net. He could not believe his misfortune to find that the linesman had flagged for offside.Despite continued pressure from the home side, Cadbury’s excellent teamwork in defence and quick breaks both kept their own clean sheet and provided enough for Brocton to worry about to suggest that the Badgers could rue their inability to convert their pressure into a goal.It was Cadbury who came out the stronger in the second half and forced a series of corners in the first 10 minutes, all bringing the best from Brocton’s rearguard. It was the fresh legs of substitute Lee Scott who eventually broke the deadlock following his own overlap on the right from an Andy Harrison through ball. Scott found Harrison in return and beating two defenders , Harrison crossed dangerously. That effort was beaten away, but the attempted clearance was intercepted and Harrison was once again found with room on the right. This time his early cross to the far post was met and buried by Lee Scott.Cadbury increased their intensity and Brocton found themselves under heavy pressure, conceding free kicks just in the area outside their goal area. As time inched slowly away, Cadbury piled more and more bodies into the danger area to try to make the most of their opportunities, finishing with their keeper adding height to their attack. The defence held firm and on the two occasions when the visitors did get into striking position, brave dives at the strikers’ feet by Mike Shelper kept Cadbury at bay. Brocton 1 v 0 Cadbury Athletic.
Coventry Copsewood v Brocton November 17th November 18, 2007
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It was the home side who made the better start to this game and, on 12 minutes Brocton mounted their first foray into the Copsewood half through a Neil Rolson dart down the left flank. His cross was met by Andy Harrison’s head and Harrison’s effort thumped against the bar. James Dyke was in close attendance though, to force home the rebound.
Copsewood were initially unfazed and continued their good approach work, but just three minutes later Steve Bennett wrestled the ball away in midfield and cleverly waited for Andy Harrison to step back on side almost on the half way line before releasing the perfect pass into his run. Harrison still had to dummy the keeper, but did so and slotted in the Badger’s second with only their second attack of the match.
Copsewood wilted and Brocton settled to their fluent best in terms of movement and passing, but amazingly after such a start, there were to be no more goals in the half despite numerous clear chances.
On 25 minutes Jon Wylde took a free kick quickly to find Andy Harrison over on the right flank. He had to work an opening to cross, but found Gary Fife in the heart of the box, almost beneath the bar. Fife volleyed the effort and managed to lift it over.
Fife nearly made amends with an assist minutes later when Steve Bennett through. Bennett’s shot could only be parried by the keeper, but he did better to smother the follow up shot from almost point blank range.
On 36 minutes with Brocton now in full attacking mode, the ball was lost in midfield and a quick pass forward and dart between defenders left the Badgers exposed to the counter attack. Mike Shelper was on hand to save bravely with at the feet of the striker in the process of shooting.
Steve Bennett and Gary Fife both had another chance in the ten minutes before the end of the half, but in both cases the keeper was able to beat the shot away from a comfortable height and in the final moments a superb cross field pass to from Andy Harrison put in matt Skinner on the left as he tore down the flank into space. Skinner went on to beat the covering full back with the aplomb of a seasoned striker, but remembered that he was a defender only as he unleashed a thundering shot over the bar.
The start of the second period saw James Dyke pick out Steve Bennett on the right and his low, hard cross was met at the far post by Andy Harrison, only to bring a save at his feet to match Shelper’s of the first half.
Harrison’s replacement, Lee Scott darted through the Copsewood back line 12 minutes into the half and managed to get past an on rushing keeper, but had to push the ball wide of the goal, enabling defenders to get back and block his eventual shot for a throw on. The throw and subsequent cross from Scott almost made amends though as James Dyke met it with a volley, just over the bar.
Copsewood clearly began to believe that they could salvage the match and had the better of the middle of this period. They were kept away from Brocton’s goal, but still did enough to make their two nil deficit look vulnerable. Gary Fife still managed two more gilt edged chances; the first a head over the bar from a Richard Reeves cross and the second a dart into the box on to a fierce Andre Campbell cross which he could not quite control.
The game was put safe with a Lee Scott penalty almost on full time when the keeper tripped Fife as he took on a Steve Bennett pass into the box.
Coventry Copsewood 0 v 3 Brocton
Goldenhill Wanderers v Brocton November 10th November 11, 2007
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Staffordshire F.A. Vase Brocton’s line up held something of a contrast with veteran Dave Langston coming in at centre back to add experience and a debut given to 17 year old Ryan Bromley in goal. It could easily have been a very comfortable afternoon for both as first Neil Rolston and then Andre Campbell used their pace and quick feet to get beyond Goldenhill’s rearguard and serve up inviting low crosses all across the goal only to see first one and then the other pass harmlessly by.Rolston got the ball into the net on 16 minutes himself when he nipped beyond the back line once again, collected James Dyke’s pass and slotted it home, but this time he was adjudged to be off side. Goldenhill played a dangerously high defensive line throughout the game and whilst it continued to have its successes in catching Rolston on a number of occasions in particular, it always looked likely to be breached.On 25 minutes Goldenhill posted a warning of their own when getting past Brocton’s back line and putting in a fierce drive at goal. It was always rising over, but the danger signs were there.On 29 minutes Rolston took the ball through, skipping over attempted tackles and his low cross this time was put out for a corner. The corner was hit deep and Andre Campbell collected it almost at the opposite corner flag before dribbling into the box and firing against the under side of the bar. Neil Rolston latched on to the ball in the centre and slipped Ben Harrison through as Goldenhill raced out. The tactic was successful again as Harrison was caught off side with the goal at his mercy. Bennett finally beat the back line on 33 minutes and slipped the ball to Ben Harrison to fire home. It was Bennett who looked to be beyond the rear guard once again moments later, but was tripped in the action of letting Campbell through. A fine advantage was played, by the referee and Campbell went on to cross for James Dyke to put Brocton further ahead.The second period began in a similar vein and Rolston’s early cross bounced away from Goldenhill’s keeper with Bennett’s follow up shot blocked before Campbell got in another which went agonisingly all across the goal line and away.As in the first half, Goldenhill then proceeded to show their own turn of pace on the left as Dave Langston, covering over on that side was left. The shot hit the bar, but the return from the rebound was true and Goldenhill were back in contention just 12 minutes into the half.Brocton continued to press and on 70 minutes James Dyke made the game safe with a confident penalty following a trip on the edge of the box.Lee Scott, returning from injury and on for Andre Campbell provided some glimpses of his darting runs and direct approach and Richard Reeves came on for James Dyke, giving way to injury as it all looked to be drifting uneventfully to the finish line.But Brocton do not do straightforward and Goldenhill still had a say in the finale. A neat pass through the Brocton back line followed by a dart into the box and sharp shot across Bromley and the home side were once again in the fight. With only five minutes to go, it was the last of the meaningful action, though and Brocton go through to the next round. Goldenhill Wanderers 2 v3 Brocton
Walsall Wood v Brocton Nov 4th November 4, 2007
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Saturday November 3rd Walsall Wood v Brocton
A hard fought game where too many stoppages and bookings did little for a classic game.
Walsall Wood started the more brightly but were repelled by a solid Brocton defence, and when Brocton attacked they always looked more assured in front of goal than their opponents. The game was calling for more cultured football but both teams were anxious to clear their lines with high balls up to their forwards, which resulted in a first half dominated by defensive play. At one stage the referee booked 5 players in succession as the game moved to boiling point with robust tackles from both sides. Walsall Wood came the closest to scoring in the foul riddled first half, just before the break when Ben Harrison cleared off the line with Shelper beaten from a shot by Simon Tollock.
The second half started better for Brocton as James Dyke’s shot was cleared off the Walsall Wood goal line and Andre Campbell had a goal disallowed for offside. Walsall Wood however had their moments, when Simeon Tullock and James Fuller combined on 60 minutes leaving four Brocton defenders to watch the ball pass just outside Shelper’s post. Brocton were getting more of the play and were giving Walsall Wood more concerns with their raids down both flanks and through the middle and were looking the most likely to score, which they did from a low driven corner by Dyke into the path of Gary Fife. Walsall Wood came storming back and it was Shelper who saved the day for Brocton with a magnificent full length save which was finally cleared of the line by Richard Jones on 87 minutes. It was Brocton’s day and an excellent follow up to the mid week success at table topping Coleshill.
Walsall Wood 0 v 1 Brocton
