Ollerton Start 2016 With Phoenix Win!

After over month without a fixture, Ollerton Town returned to action in fine form after defeating Phoenix FC 3-1 at The Lane. Phoenix came into the game in second place in the Central Midlands North Division and would have been looking to repeat their 3-2 win over Ollerton from the reverse fixture.
In that game, Ollerton were 3-0 down in the first five minutes but this time around they started much stronger and had the game's first chance. After ten minutes, Ollerton won a corner and from Kyle Clarkson's delivery, Kyle Ludlow headed the ball into the grateful hands of Connor Merone in the Phoenix goal.
A few minutes later, Phoenix were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area. The resulting ball in caused a scramble inside the Ollerton area and as the ball was turned into the back of the net, Phoenix were left frustrated after the referee's assistant ruled it out for offside.
The arrival of January not only marks the start of a New Year but also, higher up the football pyramid, the re-opening of the transfer window. Ollerton themselves have been doing some business and welcomed back Lewis Bingham and Ben Bowring to the starting eleven. Both signed during pre-season but then spent time at Rainworth Miners Welfare before returning over the festive period. Bingham came close to opening the scoring but after working space on the edge of the area, he could only find Merone with a well struck effort.
Ollerton had started brightly but were up against a Phoenix side who possess two of the league's top three goalscorers and carry a lot of danger in attack. They nearly got the game's first goal after a shot from the edge of the area was brilliantly tipped onto the frame of the goal by Ollerton 'keeper, Simon Smith.
With around five minutes left until the end of the first half, Ollerton took the lead. A corner from the left bounced off the top of the bar and back into the danger area where Tom Cooke was waiting to volley home from close range to put Ollerton one-nil up.
Early in the second half, Ollerton nearly doubled their lead. Clarkson played a great ball through the Phoenix defence for Bingham and after he ran through one-on-one, his shot rolled agonisingly wide of the post.
Ollerton didn't have to wait too long for a second however as it arrived on 51 minutes. Cooke's throw in was headed out to the edge of the box where Clarkson was waiting to volley into the bottom corner.
The early stages of the second half were all Ollerton and they came close to making it 3-0. Kyle Ludlow did brilliantly to get on the end of a ball over the top by Sam Stretton but Ludlow's powerful strike could only find the side netting.
It was always likely that Phoenix's two hit men, Steven McDonnell and Rob Gorman, would grow into the game eventually and they did just that, both having terrific chances to get their team back in the game. Just before the hour mark, Phoenix worked the ball well into the Ollerton area but Gorman spurned the chance, firing wide from close range. Next up it was McDonnell who ran through on goal but he missed the target with his across-goal effort.
These two chances were a big let off for Ollerton who were finding themselves under increased pressure but were still holding on to their 2-0 lead. Jordan Schofield was forced into a brilliantly timed slide tackle to prevent a Phoenix attacker from pulling the trigger whilst Smith also made a great save from a Phoenix corner.
With a few minutes left on the clock, Phoenix eventually got a goal back. Phoenix whipped a freekick into the area and Gorman managed to reach the ball before Smith and headed into the back of the net.
This provided a tense end to the game for the Ollerton management and faithful, especially when the referee added another five minutes. However, they needn't have worried as it was Ollerton who scored again, hitting Phoenix on the counter-attack in the final minute. Tom Cooke did brilliantly to charge up field down the right wing and he crossed into Kyle Ludlow who brought the ball down well before firing a low shot past Merone to secure the win for Ollerton.
It was perfect start to the New Year for Ollerton and the result was also a signal of intent for a side that will be looking to continue climbing up the league and finish in the top four at least come the end of the season.