Ollerton Suffer Defeat After Fixture Break!

Report by Will Lavelle, photo by DC Photography Retford.

Dave Winter’s Ollerton Town side fell to a disappointing defeat on Saturday after a poor first half performance allowed AFC Emley to secure a narrow 2-1 win. Ollerton showed clear improvements in the second half but played like a team lacking rhythm in the opening 45 which was to be expected given the 18 day break since their impressive win over Campion.
The Town started off proceedings on a bright note and almost took an early lead as Kyle Ludlow saw his strike sting the gloves of Emley keeper Max Dearnley.
Ollerton’s strong start was abruptly cut short by Jordan Townsend who broke the deadlock in the 6th minute. Townsend intercepted a poor clearance and made no mistake as his close range strike went in off the post to give Emley an early lead.
Ollerton looked to to be shook up after Townsend’s early goal as Emley went on to look like the more effective team for large periods of the first half. Ollerton struggled to cope with Emley’s pressing high up the field but the visitors struggled to create clear cut chances. Ollerton looked very stretched at times as Liam Cooper and Eden Homer were both forced into making excellent last ditch challenges meaning 'keeper Joey McCormack remained relatively untroubled.
Ollerton rarely ventured forward and struggled to trouble Dearnley in goal after Ludlow’s effort early in the half. Lewis Bingham found himself in a good position to Dearnley from close range but his tame effort was easily saved as Emley went into the interval with their noses in front.
Ollerton looked to start off the second half in a far more threatening manner than the first and the tactical decision to change from a 5-3-2 to a 4-4-2 diamond midway through the first half looked to finally be paying off. Ludlow rose highest from Bingham’s free kick but his back post header was well saved by Dearnley.
The Town looked to be the team in the ascendency at the start of the second half but Alex Slack was able to land a sucker punch on an improved Ollerton side as he doubled Emley’s advantage. Bingham was caught in possession around the Ollerton box and a simple cutback found Slack who was able to easily convert to give Emley a two goal cushion.
Ollerton continued to push on despite Emley’s lead with debutant Lewis Weaver being a positive influence of the bench, but it was Ludlow who continued to look the most likely to get Ollerton back in to the game. Emley failed to close down Ludlow who was given the opportunity to strike from range but his effort cannoned off the woodwork as Ollerton continued to threaten throughout the half.
Ollerton had looked the like the more dangerous team throughout the second half but Emley almost finished off the game late on. Townsend found himself in space on the left but his driven shot to the bottom left corner was well saved by McCormack to deny the Emley man a second of the afternoon and to keep Ollerton in the game.
Ollerton kept on fighting until the final whistle and Ludlow’s persistent performance was finally rewarded with a deserved goal. A cross from the left hand side found Ludlow who saw his header once again well saved by Dearnley but the Ollerton fan favourite was able to easily convert the rebound. Unfortunately, Ludlow’s late goal was nothing more than a consolation goal as Emley held on for a deserved win.