Shiners in Seventh Heaven as Town Crash Out of the Vase

Ollerton Town’s interest in this year’s FA Vase ended at the first hurdle as they were dumped out of the competition by step 5 outift South Normanton Athletic.

Ollerton travelled to Derbyshire still looking for a first win of the season, while their hosts came into the game following an unbeaten start to their campaign.

The opening exchanges were evenly matched with both sides looking to get the ball down and play, but it was South Normanton who struck first, taking the lead with their first real attempt on goal.

With 10 minutes gone, Martin Smyth bent a brilliantly taken free kick around the defensive wall from 25 yards out, giving Ollerton ‘keeper Levi Owen no chance.

South Normanton took control of the game, and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead on 21 minutes. A long ball set Smyth free and, with the visitors defence appealing for offside, he put the ball past the advancing Owen to make it 2-0.

Midway through the first half, Ollerton created their first real chance of the game. Lewis Bingham was bundled over cutting in from the left hand side and from the resulting free kick, Bingham’s ball into the box was headed goal wards by Brandon Shaw, only for Normanton’s Mark Strzyzewski to deflect the ball behind for a corner.

The resulting corner was swung in by Bingham and seemed to strike the arm of defender Ryan Nadine, but with the Ollerton players appealing for a ball was struck upfield, finding Eric Graves inside the Ollerton half. With the visiting defenders once again appealing for offside, Graves squared the ball to Richard Hanslow who struck home from 8 yards to effectively end the game as a contest, hitting his first, and South Normanton’s third goal of the game.

On 32 minutes, Owen prevented a fourth when he dived at Graves’ feet to snatch the ball as the striker closed in on goal.

That was the last action of any note in the first half and the teams headed back to the changing rooms with South Normanton leading 3-0.

Ollerton knew they needed to improve in the second half, and whatever Dave Winter and Stephen Bodle said at half time, clearly made an impact, as the visitors looked a much better side in the opening 20 minutes of the half.

After 47 minutes, Liam Cooper cut into the box and, after beating two defenders, hit a shot across the face of Curtis Hall’s goal. With the ‘keeper beater, the ball curved just wide of the upright and out for a goal kick.

Three minutes later, Ben Partridge was fouled 25 years out. Ashley McEwan took the free kick and beat the wall, but his effort was saved by Hall.

At the other end, Oli Simpson got above the Ollerton defence to head goalwards, but his effort was held comfortably by Owen.

On 59 minutes, Owen was in action again, this time saving at full length from Hanslow’s effort.

In the 66th minute, Ollerton almost reduced the arrears, when Tom Moody worked an opening for himself. His shot, from the right hand side of the box beat Hall but drifted wide of the Normanton goal.

With the game now end to end, Hanslow went close again in the 68th minute, shooting across the face of goal after being forced wide by a combination of Owen and Cooper.

Hanslow was not to be denied three minutes later when he pounced on a defensive error to make the score 4-0.

The goal took the wind out of the visitors sails, and the hosts quickly added a fifth on 75 minutes, when Jake Dickinson was allowed to turn in the box and shoot home into the bottom corner of the net.

To their credit, Ollerton still continued to push forward and won a free kick in a dangerous area in the 76th minute after Hewitt was brought down. Substitute Hugh Walker lined up the free kick, but his effort went over the bar.

With time running out, South Normanton added two further goals to give the scoreline an even more one-sided appearance. On 88 minutes, substitute Oliver Roome scored from 12 yards, after uncertainty in the Ollerton defence, to make the score 6-0.

Then, with the last kick of the game, Hanslow completed his hat trick and the scoring, cutting between two Ollerton defenders before shooting past Owen.

With no time to rest art the game, the Midlands League side ran out comfortable 7–0 winners, to earn a place in the next round.

Town must now quickly re-group before returning to league action next Saturday when they entertain East Hull at the Fast Frame Arena.