Ollerton Fail To Make Chances Count Against Yorkshire Amateur

A roller-coaster week for Ollerton Town ended with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Yorkshire Amateur on Saturday. After picking up their first point of the season away at Campion last week, Ollerton travelled to Nostell MW in midweek and secured their first league win since their promotion to the NCEL. As a result, Dave Winter’s side went into the Yorkshire Amateur clash in a confident mood but by the end of the game, they were left cursing a mixture of bad luck and a lack of clinical finishing in front of goal as they went down to Adam Shaw’s 41st minute goal.
It was the home side who started the brighter. Greg Tobin closed down Suwara Bojang in the Yorkshire Amateur goal and his kick deflected off Tobin and looped onto the top of the goal. Birthday boy Josh Bowkett was in the thick of the early action for Ollerton and he whizzed a shot just wide of the upright before bending a shot high and wide of the goal.
The visitors responded with chances of their own, Daniel Sheriff firing over before Adam Shaw fired wide.
Ollerton’s top goalscorer from last season, Kyle Ludlow, previously plied his trade as a centre half for the likes of AFC Mansfield and he found himself back at the heart of defence yesterday but that didn’t stop him from possessing an attacking threat from set pieces. His first headed opportunity went over the target before a second header provided a great chance for Ollerton, with it somehow staying out.
With five minutes to go in the first half, Ollerton lost right back Eden Homer to a nasty looking injury and things turned from bad to worse as a minute later, Yorkshire Amateur took the lead. A cross from out wide found Adam Shaw in the middle, and he rose highest to head in off the underside of the bar.
The game was still well and truly in the balance going into the second half and Ollerton nearly levelled in the opening minutes. Brandon Shaw went on a terrific run from left back but after finding space in the area, his shot could only find the side netting.
Greg Tobin then headed a chance wide for Ollerton before they hit the woodwork for the first time. Good footwork by Josh Bowkett found him some space on the edge of the area and his left footed shot had Bojang beaten, but it struck the base of the post.
Lewis Bingham was a threat all afternoon and he was next to go close for Ollerton. He cut inside from the left and saw his shot saved by Bojang. The ball bounced up kindly but Bingham’s diving header looped agonisingly onto the roof of the net.
It was Bingham who hit the woodwork ten minutes later for the hosts. He was slipped through and after opening himself up, his shot beat Bojang but clattered the bar.
As time wore on, Ollerton continued their efforts to get something from the game and moved Kyle Ludlow back up front for the latter stages of the game. It was Ludlow who had Ollerton’s final opportunity in stoppage time. He was put through one-on-one but failed to show the killer instinct he had at times last season as Bojang was equal to his effort.
Ollerton were left frustrated at not being able to add more to their points tally but there was still some positives to take from the game. However they’ll know that they need to be better in front of goal, starting with Tuesday’s game v Eccleshill United.