BROCTON, who reached the final of the Walsall Senior Cup last season, are one game away from repeating the achievement.
On Thursday they earned a semi-final clash away to either Stafford Rangers or holders Rushall Olympic after defeating visiting Midland Alliance side Heath Hayes 3-1 after extra time.
Heath Hayes were the first to show and looked very solid at the back so it was something of a surprise when Jordan Bloor for Brocton got past the visitors back line and got an early shot off at goal, albeit over the bar.
On the quarter hour Sam Bell had an even better chance when Jamie Evans fed the ball in from the left to Gary Fife who spotted Bell’s run in from the right and put the ball perfectly into his path as he strode into the box. The shot once more was high but the danger signs were there.
Heath Hayes meanwhile looked threatening from corners in particular and also on the break.
They monopolised Brocton's penalty area for large periods of that first half and only smart defending, goal keeping from the impressive Adam Whitehouse and wayward shooting from the visitors kept the match goalless.
Brocton fashioned another couple of good chances but it was from the second of these that the visitors countered and opened the scoring through Craig Hancox for an interval advantage.
The Badgers showed their intent in the second period and hit back when Adam Whitehouse collected a corner and threw it out to Fife who advanced at pace down the right before crossing for Bloor to score a very similar goal to Hancox’s as Mark Bowen was beaten on his near post.
Brocton then had a number of chances to take the lead as first Dave Berks' probing pass set up Dan Lomas for a shot that deflected into Bowen’s arms, but the keeper could do nothing about the following move as Evans and Bloor combined to put Fife in a shooting position.
Unusually Fife skewed his shot wide of the post. Bell then got into the box after riding two tackles and with the hard work done lifted his effort over the bar.
Extra time began and Bell soon repeated the dose as he combined with Fife to go clear but lifted his final shot, this time under much greater pressure.
Hayes were rattled though and when Bloor got past his man on the left moments later he was brought down for a penalty. Fife kept his composure to put the Badgers in the lead for the first time.
Mick Fox, who had come on earlier to help hold the ball up when Brocton cleared their lines, gave way himself to Joe Pickering and within minutes Pickering had cushioned a perfect return pass to Bell who showed that practice makes perfect with the goal that sealed an excellent win.
Rangers and Rushall meet in their quarter final tie, at Marston Road, on Thursday, March 7 (7.45pm).
