Rushall U21s V Brocton U21s (Challenge Bowl, quarter finals)

​Rushall were looking to continue their impressive form in the challenge bowl with a statement result against U21s North Division winners Brocton at Dales Lane. The Pics had been one of the standout teams in the challenge bowl with six consecutive wins in the group stage sending them through to the quarter finals.   

The Walsall side have been a good addition to the U21s North division since joining last summer. They finished the league season in 4th with eleven wins from eighteen matches which included standout home wins against Sutton United and Bilston Town.

The Pics also managed to beat Brocton in the group stages of the challenge bowl last month.  

It’s been an impressive season for Brocton at U21s level who have been one of the standout teams this campaign. The Badgers went on to win the U21s North Division thanks to an eleven-match unbeaten run to end their league campaign.

The visitors just missed out on promotion in the play off final against U21s South Division champions Stourbridge 3-2 but bounced back with a win against Boldmere in the challenge bowl last weekend.  

The Staffordshire side have been a brilliant addition to the U21s level of the MFL.

Brocton U21s have made a similar impact to their first team reaching the premier division play offs following promotion from step six last season.  

​Starting line ups

Rushall’s starting line up included Jake Manton starting in goal and Isaac Turner captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Lucas Yeomans leading the line up front and being supported by Kian Mahal and Declan Riley on the wings.

There were four changes from their last match against Solihull Sporting a few weeks ago with Tommy Bate coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Amari Osayande.

The starting line up for Brocton included Finlay Jones starting in goal and Jacob Kennett captaining the team at right back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Jude King playing up front and being supported by Morgan Payne and Toby Smith on the wings.

There was one change from their match against Boldmere St Michaels last weekend with Ryan Douglas coming into the team and playing at left back. 

First half

Brocton started the first half on the front foot and were looking to take the game to Rushall early on.

The Pics were working hard off the ball to nullify the attacking threat of the visitors in the opening fifteen minutes. Tommy Bate and Amari Osayande were helping to break up the play from holding midfield to help them settle into the match.

The visitors found the breakthrough in the 17th minute when Jude King capitalised on a loose ball in the final third. He ran to the edge of the box before playing an intricate through ball to Alex Southwick-Williams who finished into the bottom right corner for 1-0.

​Brocton had the momentum following the goal and came close to making it 2-0 when Morgan Payne found some space in the box. He had a shot that was blocked by Tommy Bate in the 21st minute.

This proved crucial and gave Rushall a foothold back into the match as the first half went on.

A few minutes later Lucas Yeomans made an instinctive run off the shoulder and was through on goal with just Finlay Jones to beat. The Rushall striker made no mistake and produced a looping finish into the top left corner to make it 1-1

The match felt a bit more even following the equaliser with both sides having spells of momentum in front of goal. Both Rushall and Brocton were positive on the ball and looking to make things happen which made for an entertaining match.

Jude King impressed up front for Brocton and served as a focal point for the Badgers. He did a good job of holding up the play and bringing players into the game for the visitors.

He found some space down the right before putting in a quality cross to Christian Moores at the back post who couldn’t quite get his header on target on 36 minutes.

Rushall produced a moment of quality to take the lead a few minutes before half time. Ollie Rouse reacted well to a second ball from a good corner into the box before shooting into the bottom right corner for 2-1 on 42 minutes.

The Pics looked a threat in the closing stages of the first half and were causing problems up front. Cavan Edwards looked a threat since coming on as a substitute and was taking players on down the right-hand side.

None the less, Brocton did a good job of containing the attacking threat of Rushall and went into the break 2-1 down.

Ethan Clift was reading the danger well at the back to keep them just a goal down going into half time.

​Second half

The momentum Rushall had at the end of the first half continued in the early stages of the second. Lucas Yeomans was making some brilliant runs into the final third and helping to stretch the play for the Pics. Isaac Turner was also leading by example at the back and clearing the danger to keep Brocton at bay.

The chances in front of goal were limited in the opening half an hour with Rushall doing a good job of controlling the match at 2-1.

A moment of inspiration changed the momentum and helped Brocton get back in it on 73 minutes. Morgan Payne showed brilliant technique to get the ball down and find the bottom right corner from the edge of the box to make it 2-2.

The goal came out of nowhere but sparked the match into life with seventeen minutes to go.  

The visitors had the momentum following the equaliser and pressed on in search of a third. Toby Smith beat a few players down the left before squaring it to Marmpeliano Novaku who found the top right corner to make it 3-2 after 77 minutes.

Brocton were in the ascendancy and manged to find a fourth when Marmpeliano Novaku played a quality floating ball to Jude King in the box. He beat a few players before finishing from a tight angle for 4-2 on 80 minutes.

Rushall showed character and were searching for a way back into the match at 4-2 down. The Pics managed to pull a goal back when Declan Riley anticipated a second ball into the box before finishing into the top right corner with seven minutes to go.

The momentum of the match completely switched following the goal with Brocton looking to hold on for a huge win. Rushall came close to finding an equaliser when Isaac Turner had a header hit the crossbar on ninety minutes.

It looked like Brocton did just enough to hold on before Rushall produced a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time to send the match to penalties. Declan Riley stepped up for the Pics and scored a huge goal. He broke free in the box before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 4-4.

The standard of the spot kicks throughout the shoot out was brilliant with not one penalty missing the target.

Tommy Bate had his spot kick saved when Finlay Jones went the right way and pushed it away from goal. It was unfortunate from a Rushall perspective as he had a good game for the Pics in midfield.  

Brocton made no mistake from the spot and kept their cool to win it 5-3 on penalties to advance to the semi-finals.  

Full time

This match was brilliant with both teams going for it and committing players forward at Dales Lane. It had everything and was a real advert for U21s football.

Rushall will feel gutted for losing on penalties following an evenly contested match across the ninety minutes. None the less, they gave it a go against a quality side and only just came up short.

Brocton will play Bedworth United in the semi-finals on Wednesday evening for a place in the final against either Stourbridge or Bromsgrove Sporting.           

FT score: Rushall Olympic 4-4 Brocton (Brocton winning 5-3 on penalties)

Man of the match: Jude King (Brocton)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League