26th April 2022
Brandon Town vs Watton United @ Brandon Remembrance Playing Fields - Brandon
Anglian Combination Division One (Step 8)
18:30 KO
Free entry
Attendance - approx. 70-80
Half-time score: Brandon Town 1-0 Watton United
Goals:
Brandon Town: Grimwood - 27'
Brandon Town: Kukuris - 88'
Watton United: Halil - 91'
Final Score: Brandon Town 2-1 Watton United
It has been a long time since I've seen some mid-week Anglian Combination football, as the season started early, midweek games have been few and far between. I therefore jumped at the chance to go to Brandon Town today for somewhat of a local tie against Watton United, in what is their last game of the season. I was at the return fixture and it was a phenomenal game, Brandon were 3-0 up and cruising, but in the last 5 minutes, Watton turned things around to level the scores at 3-3, I was therefore hopeful for more excitement today, although wanting Brandon Town to come out on top. Brandon have had a mixed season, but they have confirmed safety and are building a decent looking squad based on the performances I've seen. In contrast, Watton United look to be down, although their form has picked up of late, with some good wins against Wells Town and Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves, therefore it looked like it could be a close game.
The sun was out, and the bar was open although there was a chill in the air, but otherwise, a great night for some local football. As predicted, the game was tight and closely contested with chances few and far between. Brandon had the first decent effort of the evening, coming in the 13th minute courtesy of forward Will Martin, who stole the ball just outside the box, and seeing the keeper off his line tried to fire into the top of the net, but the keeper was able to just about stretch high enough to make the save. In the 21st minute, Watton had a good chance of their own, from a corner, the ball fell to the No.8 at the edge of the box, but he smashed his shot high and wide. In the 27th minute, Brandon attacked through a long ball sent up to Green down the left wing, he was able to square the ball into the box, but a mis-touch from the defender fell into the path of Grimwood who made sure to put the ball into the net to put Brandon Town 1-0 up.
Watton responded by bringing on a new attacker, Halil, from the bench, and in the 33rd minute, a flick on from him put the No. 7 through on goal, but goalkeeper Powell just managed to get to the ball first. In the 41st minute, Brandon attacked down the right, Will Martin got into the position to shoot and sent his strike across the box, wide of the far post, but with a possible hint of a deflection although no corner was given.
In the second half, the game remained closely fought, and at times got a bit heated starting when Watton's Webster was sent to the bench for 10mins for dissent, putting Watton down to 10 men temporarily. Although Brandon pressed to get the second in this period, Watton stood firm, the best chances coming from a corner where substitute defender Kukuris came close to connecting at the back post, and a 20 yard volley from another substitute, Hunter, which went straight to the keeper. In the 66th minute, a deep Brandon goal-kick was allowed to bounce, forward Will Martin got between the defenders, managed to control the ball and burst through on goal, 1-on-1, but the keeper came out quickly to close the angle, and got down well to deny Martin his goal, keeping Watton firmly in the game.
Watton stepped it up as they went in search of an equaliser, but the Brandon defence were able to marshal the attacks well, although there were a few chances. In the 69th minute, a long throw-in from the No. 4 was sent into the box and Webster went close with a headed effort. In the 79th minute, the No. 7 managed a shot on target but his effort was tame. In the 82nd minute, a corner was swung in at the near post, and the resulting header went close again, and in the 85th minute, attacker Costache burst into the box from the right wing and fired in a powerful strike that was well parried out for a corner by Powell.
In the final minutes, big defender Kukuris was sent up front to hold up the ball, and this appeared to work fairly well, and in the 88th minute, a corner was whipped in by Buckmaster that was met by a towering header from Kukuris to put Brandon 2-0 up, all but sealing the win. However, the return fixture had a big comeback from Watton, and in the 91st minute, substitute winger Lester sent in a high awkward ball from the left wing, Halil rose highest to nod the ball home from close range, putting the score finely poised at 2-1. The last couple minutes were nervy when Watton pushed hard for the equaliser, but thankfully this time it was too late in the day, and Brandon were able to secure a win in their final game of the season to end on a high.
That was a hard fought victory for Brandon Town, and was well deserved as they battled all game and looked to have the upper hand for large parts of the game. The young front-line of Will Martin and Zak Grimwood looked lively, and it is great they have managed to stay in D1, and with a new manager waiting in the wings, there is a decent squad to build on for the new season, and hopefully it will be a more steady one than this one. I look forward to seeing what the Brandon Town team will look like under new management, so will definitely be back next season.
Line-Ups:
BRANDON TOWN: Callum Powell, Charlie Power, Liam Wing, Harry Taylor, Luke King, Lewis Bishop, Josh Green, Harvey McGeeney (C), Will Martin, James Buckmaster, Zak Grimwood. SUBS: Robbie Hunter, Tomas Kukuris, Grzegorz Ostrowski.
WATTON UNITED (not in number order): Mark Allibone, Michael Callaghan, Alex Costache, Lewis Daniels, Joao Fernandes Cruz, Brendan Foley (C), Keiran Leggett, Aidan Rayner, Mason Taylor, Matthew Webster, Jordan Lovell. SUBS: Luke Halil, Lee Lester.
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