Ollerton Hold On For Fifth Successive Win!

Ollerton secured their fifth win in a row on Saturday after getting the better of Dronfield Town Reserves in a five-goal encounter. As it did up and down the country, the strong wind's had a big impact on the game and it's no coincidence that Ollerton secured a 2-0 lead in the first half with the wind in their favour before Dronfield fought back in the second half once the wind was on their side. As well as the wind, Ollerton also had to deal with playing on a 3G pitch rather than the grass pitches they're used to.
Two goals by Jamie Charlton saw Ollerton go ahead whilst a goal just after the interval by Kyle Ludlow proved to be decisive. Dan Hamilton and Chaz Bradwell scored two late goals for Dronfield who came close to securing a point.
Those in attendance who may have been wondering how much the wind would effect the game got their answer after seven minutes when Ollerton's Kyle Clarkson delivered a corner kick which, with help of the wind, forced the Dronfield 'keeper into tipping the ball onto the bar.
Ten minutes later and Ollerton had the lead. A ball over the top of the Dronfield defence put Jamie Charlton through on goal and he kept calm under pressure to poke the ball under the 'keeper and into the back of the net.
Charlton scored again around the half hour mark. Tom Cooke fired a shot towards goal which was deflected into the path of Charlton who did well to slot the ball home from a tight angle.
With Ollerton looking to extend their advantage before they came up against the wind, Kyle Ludlow came agonisingly close to making it 3-0 as he saw a long ranged effort thump the bar.
The Ollerton management spoke at half time about the importance of getting a goal in the second half and they got just that six minutes into the second period. Jordan Schofield won the ball brilliantly before sending a long pass forward to Kyle Ludlow who cut in from the left wing, rounded the Dronfield 'keeper and fired into the net.
After losing Sam Stretton just before half time, Ollerton captain Craig Stanton was next to be substituted due to injury midway through the second half. To make matters worse, Ollerton then lost Paul Burgess to a serious looking injury in the build up to Dronfield's first goal.
Up against a Dronfield attacker, Burgess hurt his ankle and fell to the floor whilst the ball was worked to the edge of the area where Dan Hamilton fired a well struck shot past Simon Smith.
With around ten minutes left on the clock, Dronfield began to crank up the pressure and with 88 minutes left on the clock, they reduced the deficit to one. Eddie Bishop gave away a freekick on the left of the Ollerton box and Chaz Bradwell's powerful freekick beat Smith.
The hefty chunk of stoppage time that the referee added on were tense times for Ollerton as Dronfield came ever so close to drawing level. The Dronfield winger broke free on the right and his shot beat Smith and looked to be heading for the far corner but thankfully for Ollerton, it just bounced wide of the post.
Despite the cagey last ten minutes, it was probably a deserved three points for Ollerton who dealt with the difficult conditions well. The Town's attention now moves to a difficult cup game on Tuesday night against local rivals Clipstone FC.