All Square at Ollerton as Points are Shared

On red hot August afternoon, better suited to the sound of leather on willow, Ollerton Town and Armthorpe Welfare met at the Fast Frame Arena.

Town were hoping to gain their first win of the season, whilst Welfare arrived in Nottinghamshire on the back of a win last week over much fancied North Ferriby.

Last season’s games between the two sides both ended in draws, and this proved to be an equally well matched encounter. There was little between the two sides throughout the 90 minutes, and a draw was a fair reflection of a game with not too many clear cut chances.

Ollerton settles quickly into their passing game and on three minutes, Conor Higginson got free in the box but could only shoot into the side netting. A minute later, it was the visitors turn to look dangerous,when Adam Lee delivered a cross from the right, which Ollerton ‘keeper Levi Owen held at full stretch.

With chances at a premium,Aaron Sennett-Neilson had a cross well claimed by Welfare’s ‘keeper Alfie Stevens-Neale on 19 minutes, before Owen collected a 30 yard effort from Ryan Poskitt midway through the half.

Owen was back in action in the 32nd minute after Ollerton skipper Sam Stretton had fouled Poskitt 25 yards out. Liam Radford’s well struck free kick beat the wall and was heading into the bottom corner, but Owen was equal to it and pushed the ball away at the expense of a corner.

With 37 minutes on the clock, Ollerton defender Lewis Murr was the victim of a late challenge from his opposite number Chris Simpson. The resulting injury would prevent Murr’s re-appearance after half time and Simpson was, perhaps, a little fortunate that the referee chose to show only a yellow card for the offence.

Just before half time, Higginson was brought down on the edge of the box, with the loose ball breaking to Murr whose shot was well saved by Stevens-Neale.

That proved to be the last action of any note and the two teams left the field with the game goalless.

The injured Murr was replaced by Liam Cooper for the second half, and the substitute started the move which almost led to the opening goal in the 47th minute.

Cooper’s cross was cleared for a throw-in by Josh Gibbons on the left hand side of the field. Stretton‘s long throw was flicked goal-wards by Kyle Ludlow, but his header came back off of the bar, with the Armthorpe defence clearing the danger.

On 51 minutes, the visitors took the lead. A high ball into the Ollerton box came off Brandon Shaw’s head as he challenged Radford. The loose ball fell to Josh O’Neill who controlled well and beat Owen from six yards out, to give Welfare the lead.

Armthorpe almost doubled their lead 5 minutes later when O’Neill put Radford in on goal. Owen raced out of his area to meet the striker and somehow both missed the ball, allowing Shaw to clear the danger.

Then, just after the hour mark, the home side had a great chance to equalise. A corner on the Ollerton right was met perfectly by Shaw, but the defender couldn’t keep his header down and the ball cleared the crossbar.

Ollerton continued to push for an equaliser and it finally came in the 75th minute. After neat build up play, the ball was played through to Dickinson, who found space in the box to control the ball and shoot under the advancing Stevens-Neale to level the scores.

Two minutes later, Armthorpe nearly regained the lead when Adam’s Lee’s goal-bound effort was pushed around the post by Owen, with the resulting corner punched clear by the ‘keeper.

With ten minutes left, Lewis Bingham had a chance to win the game for the home side. Ash McEwan’s cross from the left fell perfectly for Bingham, but his shot cleared the crossbar.

Bingham’s effort was the last real chance and the game ended with the scores level at 1-1. Despite both teams having chances to win the game, a draw was a fair outcome to a keenly competed game between two well matched teams.

Ollerton take a break from the league next weekend as they travel to face South Normanton Athletic in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase. Athletic play in the Midlands Football League and will provide a difficult challenge as Dave Winter’s side look to take the first step on the road to Wembley.