Staffs FA Vase Semi Final A very strong wind was never going to help this game to be a spectacle, but the home side showed good method in switching play among their back line players and midfield and some good darting runs up front. Ironically, over the course of the game, however, it was the high ball into Brocton’s penalty box which threatened most to unsettle the visitors.A few early probes by Brocton and similar ripostes by Hanley met with disciplined defences at both ends, before Steve Bennett nipped through a high back line to find himself one on one with the home keeper. Bennett had to contend with a defender in close contention, but still got his shot off, with the keeper clearing. Then Lee Scott broke through after a Richard Jones tackle and swift probing pass. Scott’s shot  was blocked for a throw. Lee Northwood got into the act from the throw, finding Scott again, this time on the other flank and Scott crossed quickly, cut out on the edge of the box. He had more joy on the right flank from a similar set up by Jones. This time Scott shot from wide and Steve Bennett arrived to help the ball over the line.A Northwood throw from left back found Tom Kent, who switched it to Gary Fife just inside him. Fife threaded a ball through for Steve Bennett and Bennett looked sure to add to Brocton’s tally, but for a superb smothering save.  In a flash Hanley were level. Brocton cleared their lines of a first attack and looked set to do so with the loose ball when Andy Chandler appeared to be shoved unceremoniously away. Nathan Chinn-Shaw said thank you very much as Brocton’s appeals fell on deaf ears.That was on the half hour, but by 32 minutes Brocton had regained the lead, despite lee Scott having a penalty saved in the interim. Scott raced clear of the back line and poked the ball beneath an advancing keeper as he dived at his feet. The penalty seemed harsh, but fair, common sense prevailed when no red card was shown and better still for the home side when Scott’s own penalty was well beaten out for a corner. The joy was short lived though as the corner was deflty flicked on at the near post and Scott made amends at the far post with the Badger’s second. The game went longer and higher in the second period and Hanley created a few nerve jangling moments, with the nearest to scoring coming almost on the hour when no one seemed able to get a firm touch on a bobbling ball in Brocton’s box. In the end it took Andy Chandler at the left hand post to smuggle it away complete with a one two off the post. Fifteen minutes later Lee Scott put the hard working Gary Fife through on the right with a perfectly weighted pass and Fife stroked an equally good pass across the goal for the       incoming James Dyke to slot home. Unbelievably, the keeper made the ground across his goal and flung himself in front of Dyke to produce the save of the match. It was totally unfair on him when, seven minutes later, following a Dave Langston clearance from the heart of Brocton’s defence and a quick pass on by Ben Harrison, Steve Bennett nipped in to poke the ball past the keeper and into an unguarded net when there had looked to be no danger at all. Hanley Town 1 v 3 Brocton