Thompson Thunderbolt Completes Ollerton Comeback!

Ollerton Town Manager Dave Winter this week got into the spirit of the Transfer Window, adding three players to this squad, and then watched on Saturday as two of these signings found the back of the net to help Ollerton fight back to draw 2-2 against Grimsby Borough .
After going 2-0 down early on thanks to two goals by Grimsby’s Daniel Trott, Ollerton never gave up and George Pearce, arriving on a dual signing from Newark Town, reduced the deficit with a deflected strike. Ollerton dominated the rest of the game but it took until an 89th minute wonder strike from Matthew Thompson, a new arrival from Rainworth Miners Welfare, before the scoreline was level.
These two sides met on the opening day of the season and in that game too, Grimsby took an early 2-0 lead before Ollerton pegged them back to make it 2-2. In that game, Ollerton conceded a late penalty to lose the game but on Saturday, The Town managed to secure a very good point against a side that are currently pushing for automatic promotion.
Ollerton started the game brightly and came very close to opening the scoring. Lewis Bingham’s terrific freekick had the beating of Grimsby ‘keeper Damien Steer but it struck the bar and bounced down, with Grimsby somehow clearing the ball to safety.
Grimsby went into the game in 3rd position whilst Ollerton were sat in 17th, having only picked up one point in their last four games. Therefore, when the opening goal came, it was no surprise it went with the form book as Grimsby took the lead. The ball was slipped through down the right wing and Daniel Trott took the ball on before firing across Scott Gretton, into the back of the net.
Sam Dockwray saw a good chance for Ollerton deflected wide before Grimsby doubled their lead. Trott was played through down the right once again and his powerful effort got the better of Gretton, finding the bottom corner.
Steer was on hand to deny Greg Tobin and Josh Bowkett as Ollerton went in search of a way back into the game however he could do nothing about Ollerton’s first. A corner fell to George Pearce on the edge of the area and his well-struck shot hit a Grimsby defender and deflected into the net.
That put Ollerton back in the game going into the second half and they look determined to draw level, dominating proceedings during the second period.
Their best chance came just after the hour mark. Lewis Bingham had been torturing Grimsby right back Daniel Grant all afternoon and he left Grant with his legs in knots once again before playing a ball across goal which Matthew Thompson was inches away from slotting in at the far post.
Ollerton were now putting the Grimsby goal under some serious pressure with Alex Sennett and Kyle Ludlow both heading great chances over the bar from corner kicks.
Caine Winfarrah smashed a good opportunity over the bar as Grimsby had a rare period of pressure before Ollerton resumed peppering the Grimsby goal, Ludlow and Bingham both seeing shots saved well by Steer.
With the time running down on the clock, it looked as if Grimsby may hold on for the win but thankfully, Matthew Thompson, making his first start since returning to Ollerton after a brief spell last season, had other ideas. He had time and space thirty-five yards out from goal and he got the ball out of his feet before hitting an unstoppable strike into the top corner which sparked wild celebrations from the Ollerton players and fans.
There was still time for a mad end to the game as both sides pushed for a winner. Grimsby attacked well and forced a goal mouth scramble which Ollerton somehow managed to clear from under the bar before the ball fell to Lewis Bingham in the area and he saw his goal-bound effort deflected wide.
In the end, there was to be no late goal like on the opening day and both sides had to settle for a point. No doubt Ollerton will be the happier of the two teams though they will perhaps feel like that they could have stolen all three points given the number of chances they had in the second half.