Tividale FC

Report

JW Hunt Cup
Round One
Tuesday 29th October 2019
Brocton 1-3 Tividale

Tividale beat the badgers

Tividale’s record this season of winning at least one game in all their cup competitions continued as they put paid to a spirited young Brocton side.

After last weekend’s washout and a big league game against Selston at the weekend, a midweek game on a fresh October evening, in Stafford, on a billiard table of a pitch was just what the doctor’s ordered.

With Luke Carter back from his three game suspension and Curtis Cocking with the squad and on the bench for the first time since the ankle injury that has ruled him out for 2 months. Also on the bench was Tom Hurdman who had recovered from his injury.

So Tividale had the privilege of a fully fit squad to select from. So Freddie Watts, Dan Bryson, Emile Beckford and Tyree Clarke were all given the night off.

Tividale took the lead after just 10 minutes when Liam Wilkinson found Darragh Bustin out wide and his shot beat Brocton keeper Henry Smith. Brocton forward Regan Smith then found Christian Blanchette on 15 minutes and his hammer of a shot was well saved by Tividale keeper Louis Connor. Regan Smith then had two great chances in a minute to level the scores. The first brought a comfortable save by Connor. But the second a minute later was beaten away by Connor straight into the path of Blanchette but Connor was able to get up and block his shot.

On 36 minutes Brocton equalised. The assistant had raised his flag for offside in an earlier phase of play but the man in the middle played on. Take nothing from Brocton full back Jamie Weldon as he found the top left hand corner of Connors net with a brilliant strike with the assistant flagging . There then was a discussion between assistant and referee which you felt was only going to go one way as the man in the middle had already played on and as expected the goal was given.

Regan Smith then tried a bit of an audacious effort from 35 plus yards but Connor watched it go wide. Right on the stroke of half time the same assistant was involved in period of play that ended up going against the home side. Blanchette raced onto a through ball from what was a clear offside position but the official was behind the play and waived it on. With the assistant desperately trying to get back into position the forward went down appealing for a penalty but it was also waived on.

Half Time: Brocton 1-1 Tividale

Tividale were back in front within 2 minutes of the restart. Brocton centre back Kenny Devoir who along with his centre back partner Jake Thomas had not put a foot wrong, slipped presenting the ball to Tividale’s Dan Smith and once the striker was one on one with Henry Smith the keeper was always struggling as Dan Smith slid the ball past him and into the net. A minute later and another defensive mix up allowed Bustin to get away and through on goal but keeper Smith did well to block his shot and the danger was cleared

On 50 minutes it was 3-1, Dan Smith became provider as he played a neat pass into the run of Bustin and he lobbed the keeper and into the net. On the hour Regan Smith worked himself some room in the Tividale area but his shot lacked any power and was easily saved by Connor. Bustin then saw his shot go wide but he was awarded a corner.

Brocton never stopped trying to press and get back in the game but Tividale were not in the mood to let them back in it and the home side were restricted to just a couple of long range efforts in the remainder of the game.. The first a spectacular overhead kick from Jake Thomas that flashed wide and then a Dan Lomas effort just cleared the crossbar.

So the visitors closed out the game with no major scares and will travel to West Midland regional Leagues Sikh hunters in the next round.

Full Time: Brocton 1-3 Tividale

Tividale:- 1. Louis Connor, 2. Joe Burroughs (14. Tom Hurdman 76), 3. Lewis Probert, 4. Luke Carter (15. Curtis Cocking 73), 5. Jacob Barnes, 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Jake Webb, 8. Liam Wilkinson (16. Kyle Bromley 85), 9. Dan Smith, 10. Darragh Bustin, 11. Brad Welding

Unused Subs:- 12. Cameron Milne