Wednesday 27th February Brocton v Brereton Social

This game began at a furious pace, perhaps in an attempt to ward off the cold. It meant that possession was far from comfortable for either side and passes inevitably went astray. The game switched from end to end remarkably quickly and no sooner had one side snatched an attempt at goal than the other was pressing in return.

James Dyke took the eye in midfield for Brocton, with determined closing down and tackling, but also with the first real chance of the game. A Richard Reeves throw was only half cleared from Brereton’s box and Dyke was on to the loose ball, unleashing a fierce volley, which Adam Braddock did well to parry. Dyke won the ball in midfield moments later and set Gary Fife free to his left. Lee Northwood steamed past Fife down the left touchline and Fife used his run to find room inside. His cross found Lee Scott at the right hand edge of the box and Scott volleyed over.

Brereton immediately struck back with a defence turning ball over the Brocton back line and Richard Jones got in a saving tackle, only to see a snap shot from deep, which had to be watched carefully over the bar by Mike Shelper.

A long ball from the back saw Gary Fife race clear on the left and jink his way to the bye line, before crossing to the back post, where a powerful header brought a fine save from Braddock. Once again the response was swift, with mike Shelper having to field the result of a free header in his own box seconds later. The deadlock was broken just before half time when Fife once again broke through the back line. This time the loose ball was met by Fife and Braddock just outside the box and the ball broke kindly for the Brocton player from the tackle. He had to go wide left to chase it, but despite arriving defenders on the line, made no mistake with a cool left foot finish.

There was little change to the ebb and flow of the match in the second period and it was the second of two consecutive free kicks from James Dyke which helped to make the game safe. The first to the far post had Richard Reeves head back across goal and was well defended under pressure and the second was just slipped a yard to his right, from where Lee Scott struck Brocton’s second of the night.

Youngster Lee Northwood, making a comeback from injury and deputising at left back for one of Brocton’s most reliable players, Matt Skinner, was having a fine match already, but then produced a mini series of sharp tackles and pressure. The efforts were matched by his team mates and time and again Brereton attacks were turned and forced away from goal without there being a threat. A typical bout of this defensive pressure gave Richard Miller a chance late in the second half. He did all the hard work in maintaining his control of the ball together with his advantage in speed over the recovering defence, but went for power over placement and hit his shot wide of the target.

Kieran Newey came on for Social as a late substitute and his fresh legs lifted his team as the final whistle beckoned. He produced almost the last meaningful action of the game with a lifted shot causing Mike Shelper to back track and touch the ball over the bar.

Brocton 2 v 0 Brereton Social