Stalemate at the ‘Swall Siro’ as ‘Nest and Town Share the Spoils.

Photo and words by Nigel Owen.

Swallownest and Ollerton had to be content with a point each after Saturday’s NCEL Division One encounter.

Both sides went into the game looking for a change in fortunes, with Swallownest losing last time out and Ollerton yet to register a win this season.

The game started with Ollerton very much on the front foot. Ben Partridge twice got free down the right hand side in the opening two minutes, but on each occasion his cross was easily dealt with by the Swallownest back line.

Swallownest‘s first pressure came in the sixth minute. The first of a number of long throws into the box was scrambled away at the expense of a corner by a combination of George Slack and Brandon Shaw, with the resulting flag kick cleared by Sam Stretton.

Ollerton’s Levi Owen saw an early opportunity to release Julian Topliss in the 11th minute. The ‘keepers long kick played Topliss in on the visitors left, with his cross being cleared for a corner by Swallownest skipper Josh Statham.

Lewis Bingham took the corner which was punched over his own bar by Swallownest ‘keeper Rich Watson. From the next corner, Bingham’s cross fell perfectly for George Slack, but his headed effort was brilliantly turned over by Watson.

Ollerton then enjoyed the majority of the play for the next twenty minutes, without creating too many clear chances. Then, in the 31st minute, referee Colin Bailey made the first of several controversial decisions, which lead to the visitors taking the lead.

A long throw from the Swallownest left, skimmed off of the top of Slack’s head as he challenged Statham in the area. Owen caught the ball at his near post, with the home side insistent that the ball had already crossed the line for a corner. With Mr Bailey waving play-on, Owen launched a pin-point kick deep into the Swallownest half, putting Partridge one-on-one with defender Aaron Statham. Partridge won the battle and played in Topliss who finished superbly past the advancing Watson for a goal on his return to the club.

Swallownest’s protests fell on deaf ears, and the goal was awarded to give Ollerton the lead.

Ollerton could have twice increased their lead in the remaining minutes of the first half. Partridge went through one-on-one with Watson, but the ‘keeper saved well and then Partridge found the side netting with an effort just before the break after cutting in from the right hand side.

Swallownest were glad to get to the break with only a one-goal deficit, and manager Jordan Stocks quickly made two changes with Statham and Juninho Blake replaced by new signing Alfie Smith and Jay Short.

Stock’s shuffling of the pack paid dividends when, in the first real incident of the half, Tom Cropper went down under a challenge in the Ollerton area.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Jake Squires stepped up to confidently beat Owen and level the score at 1-1.

Three minutes later, Ollerton had claims for a penalty of their own. Lewis Murr’s cross was headed towards goal by Slack, and Squires blocked the ball on the line, seemingly with his hand. The Ollerton player’s appealed for what seemed to be a stone-wall penalty, but Mr Bailey waved play on, much to the amazement of the majority in attendance.

Then, in another moment of controversy, Swallownest substitute Short was injured in a challenge with Owen. The striker looked to be in one-on-one, but was flagged offside.

While the whistle was heard by Owen, Short failed to hear it and lunged at the ball, falling awkwardly on his shoulder. Short was helped off of the pitch and was replaced by Matthew Morton.

Minutes later, Swallownest were awarded a free kick just outside the box. Up stepped Squires but his shot was superbly turned away by Owen for a corner.

Back came Ollerton with Sean Dickinson breaking clear down the right hand side. His cross was met perfectly by Topliss, but the effort found the side netting with Watson scrambling across his six yard box.

Then, substitute Morton could have won it for the home side. A long kick from Watson beat the `Ollerton defenders and, with Owen advancing the striker looked to have played the ball over him towards an empty net. Owen had other ideas, and got a hand to the ball, taking the pace off of it to allow Slack to make an excellent clearance.

Ollerton then enjoyed the majority of possession in the last few minutes, but couldn’t find the winning goal with midfielder Sean Dickinson and Assistant Manager Lee Needham both being sin-binned for an incident near the two dug outs.

With five minutes of stoppage time played, the referee called an end to proceedings leaving the two sides with a point each and plenty to discuss after an incident filled game.