'Jekyll & Hyde' Ollerton in Knaresborough Defeat

Ollerton Town's recent mixed form continued on Saturday as they were well beaten 4-0 by promotion-chasing Knaresborough Town. Dave Winter's side have lost every other game since their 2-2 draw with Grimsby Borough at the start of the year, and though they remain in a relatively healthy position in the fight for survival, Winter will be hoping his side put a run together between now and the end of April so his side aren't looking over their shoulders in the final stages of the season.
Saturday's game was always going to be a tough test with Knaresborough being well in the hunt for promotion, with a very strong side that included former Leeds United player, Sebastien Carole. Despite this, Ollerton will be disappointed in their own performance as they failed to meet the standards they've set previously this season.
Ollerton started the game poorly and were punished on thirteen minutes as Knaresborough took the lead. Brad Walker was played through and he did well to slot past Joe Parker in the Town goal.
Josh Bowkett saw a shot deflected wide for Ollerton just past the half hour mark and from the following corner, Ollerton almost drew level, but the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the upright following a goalmouth scramble.
That was to be all the action in what was an unmemorable first half and as Ollerton looked to start the second period the brighter, they nearly equalised. Sam Dockwray was the hero in last week's 2-1 over Yorkshire Amateur, and he fired over a good chance from just outside the area.
Joe Parker was then called into action on fifty-five minutes, doing well to keep out a Brad Walker shot, as the visitors went in hunt for a second.
It was to be Knaresborough who scored next as on sixty minutes they made it 2-0 in brilliant fashion . A corner was headed out to the edge of the area, and Jim Bradley's stunning strike flew into the top corner, leaving Parker with no chance.
The visitors then made it 3-0 as they wrapped up the victory. Knaresborough 'keeper, Ben Ledger, sent a big punt upfield which made its way through the Ollerton defence too easily, and Fraser Lancaster beat Parker to the ball to head home.
Knaresborough's fourth arrived two minutes before the end and was almost identical to their third. Another big kick by Ledger was this time met by Colin Heath, who tapped in his twentieth goal of the campaign.
In between the two goals, Ollerton's best chance fell to Kyle Ludlow who dispossessed Ledger, but from a tight angle and under pressure from Knaresborough defenders, failed to get a shot away on the open goal.
Ollerton's focus now switches to a 'Six Pointer' against Worsbrough Bridge next week, with the side from Barnsley also finding themselves at the wrong end of the table.