Midland Combination Premier Division
Saturday 14th January
Brocton 1 Bloxwich United 2
A moment’s indecision on 10 minutes summed up how this match was set to continue as Matt Skinner was closed down and his eventual pass cut out. Brocton were immediately in trouble as Leon Taylor and Mark Wooldridge combined to work the latter a shooting opportunity. In the event Wooldridge shot wide, but it was a let off for Brocton.
A similar mix up gave Taylor another opportunity, which Skinner snuffed out with a well timed tackle and then as Brocton looked to have weathered the early storm, it was Sam Bell who cushioned the ball on the edge of his own box, but could not prevent it from presenting Wooldridge with another golden opportunity. The shot was miss hit as it came to him quickly, but it looped up and in off the post to give the visitors a lead on 20 minutes.
Sam Fleming broke from the back on the half hour and although he was tripped, he had played the ball forward forBellto chase and a good advantage allowed play to continue.Bell did well to cut inside and as keeper Gavin Ellis closed down, got his toe to it first, but could not get enough on it to get it past the keeper.
Bloxwich were working hard and deserved the good fortune in deflected passes falling to them , but when one finally fell to Gary Fife, he worked himself a good shooting position, but could only get his effort just wide of a post. He and Sam Hollingsworth then raised the home side’s spirits a little just before the break as they combined to giveFifeanother sight of goal. This time Ellis made a good save.
With Joe Pickering and Mick Fox added to the striking line up in the second period, Brocton looked much livelier and within minutes of the restart Dan Lomas hit the post with a powerful header from a Dave Berks cross. ThenPickeringgot through and in on goal only to shoot wide under pressure and Fox was one on one with the keeper, albeit with a defender leaning on him, after a huge kick from Adam Whitehouse’s hands. The ball was smuggled away from Fox as he tried to tee up a shot. The pressure from the home side was building at last and Fox found Fife to head over before a Jamie Evans free kick was flicked on byFifefor Berks to volley home.
Brocton, with their recent two late wins in mind, clearly believed that they could win this one and went all out for it with Richard Miller further strengthening the attacking options but with seconds remaining and a draw looking the likely outcome, a suicidal pass at the back gave Bloxwich a three on one at the back and Taylor showed no mercy in sliding the ball beyond Whitehouse’s reach.
Brocton: Adam Whitehouse, Richard Jones, Jamie Evans, Matt Skinner, Sam Fleming, Andy Bourne, Sam Bell, Sam Hollingsworth, Gary Fife, Dave Berks, Dan Lomas.
Used Substitutes: Joe Pickering, Mick Fox, Richard Miller.
