Brilliant Buckham Sparks Another Ollerton Comeback

Report by William Lavelle.

For the second time in recent weeks, Ollerton Town came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with two Jordan Buckham goals frustrating promotion-chasing Selby Town on Saturday afternoon.
Ollerton held Yorkshire Amateur in mid-October despite going two goals behind and on Saturday Dave Winter's side displayed that same fighting spirit to claim a point with recent addition, Jordan Buckham, taking the headlines.
The Town’s continued with a back five from last week's win against Shirebrook and their start to the game looked to justify the decision. In the opening minutes of the game Ollerton really looked to push back a Selby team who looked quite wasteful in possession but their only real chance from this bright start came from Ashley Shannon’s strike from the edge of the box that always looked to be rising away from the Selby goal.
For the opening 20 minutes Selby were forced to mainly work the ball forward through direct counter attacks as Ollerton were able to play the ball around quite comfortably and generally looked to be the better team when in possession. After that however, Selby really began to grow in to the game and their continued focus on attacking Ollerton’s rampaging wing backs finally paid off as Reece Lucas was able to powerfully header home Joe Dale’s curling cross from the right wing to give Selby an early lead.
Selby’s opening goal really seemed to be a wake up call for Ollerton as they were able to regain the higher tempo. The quality of the Ollerton build up play also really improved near the end of the half and this was typified in Ollerton’s equaliser as Gavin King played the ball out wide to Sean Dickinson who cut the ball back to an completely open Chris Hewitt who managed to keep his composure and send the keeper the wrong way to put Ollerton on level terms.
The rest of the first half remained quite an end-to-end affair and both teams would’ve been quite content to just take a draw into half time and regroup. Unfortunately, Ollerton weren’t able to see out half all square as Liam Flanagan was able to expertly pluck a high ball out of the air and strike the ball past Ryan Brooks who had little chance of keeping the well struck shot out. Ollerton will have been disappointed to have conceded so late in the half but more of the credit has to go to Flanagan as sometimes it’s right to just hold your hands up and applaud a quality goal.
A clear reaction would’ve been expected from Ollerton at the start of the second half but an adverse reaction occurred as Selby looked to be able to break through Ollerton’s defensive line with ease early on. In the 48th minute, a long through ball found Flanagan again who found himself in far too much space and completed what was quite a classy brace as he lobbed a slightly indecisive Brooks from just inside the box to give Selby a two goal lead.
At this point in the game the deficit looked to be insurmountable and it possibly should’ve been even more given the chances that Selby were creating early in the second period.
Ollerton were not down and out however and they were still able to cause the hosts problems. The in-form Chris Hewitt was able to get on the end of Dickinson’s curling ball but he couldn’t quite find the right connection with a header.
Ollerton’s continuing pressure eventually paid dividends as King’s strike from the right edge of the box looked to be comfortably going out for a goal kick but attacking wing back Jordan Buckham reacted quickest to give Ollerton what was an unlikely lifeline.
The visitors looked to really take control after Buckham’s goal and Ollerton’s midfield duo of Sam Stretton and Sean Dickinson became far more involved in Ollerton’s offensive play and provided far more passing options for Ollerton’s front three who at times had become isolated.
Ollerton now looked far more dangerous going forward and former Rossington Main player Buckham was able to complete an unlikely brace with a curling free kick which was struck directly in the top corner past the helpless Paul Hagreen to leave the Ollerton faithful in raptures.
The remaining 25 minutes was full of attacking football and saw a nerve racking end to the game for both sides. Dickinson’s right footed effort from just outside the box almost crept in but always looked to be curling the wrong side of the post and King’s delicate lobbed effort almost caught Hagreen out.
Selby continued to push on in spite of the Ollerton pressure and almost found a winner themselves as Joe Dale’s effort from point blank range was denied by an excellent low save from Brooks to salvage a brilliant point for Ollerton.
From what could’ve turned into quite a one sided contest at points, Ollerton will gladly take a well earned point which seems them stretch their unbeaten run to three games which will give them needed confidence as they continue to tackle a difficult looking November.