Ollerton Town's 2022 continues to be a year of frustration as Worsbrough Bridge fought back from 2-0 down to secure a point and leave the Town still searching for their first win of the New Year.

Ollerton were not at their best but two goals in the opening fifteen minutes saw them take control of the game. Worsbrough responded with a goal of their own before half time and despite chances for both teams, it was Worsbrough who scored again to share the points.

The opening goal of the game arrived in the 11th minute after a fairly even opening to the contest. Jacques Etia picked up possession deep inside Worsbrough's half and was able to advance forward before passing to the feet of Ollie Grady. The Ollerton midfielder in turn sent the ball to Joe Lumley who fired a shot towards the near post, seeing it squeeze past Ross Pritchard and into the back of the net.

A few minutes later and Ollerton doubled their lead. It was another assist for Grady as his well delivered corner found George Slack free in the middle of the area, Worsbrough allowing him the time and space to thump a header past Pritchard.

The hosts began to fight back searching for a way back into the game, and in the 25th minute, Conor Glavin saw his strike from distance skew wide of the Ollerton goal.

Around the half hour mark however, the Briggers did halve the deficit. An in-swinging corner went all the way to the back post and after a Worsbrough player did well to keep the ball in, Luke Francis was on hand to smash a low shot past Ollerton 'keeper Marcus Coombs.

A third goal would have seen Ollerton retake control of the game and in the 51st minute, it almost arrived through Sam Geeves as he latched onto a loose ball 20 yards out, but his dipping strike went over the bar.

At the other end, Worsbrough came agonisingly close to an equaliser as Callum Walton's shot from inside the area deflected off Joe Turner and onto the post.

It had been an exciting start to the second half and that continued when Ollerton were awarded a free kick after Etia was hacked down when it looked like he was through on goal. Jason Foster stepped up to take it and his curling effort forced Pritchard into a strong save.

Worsbrough were asking serious questions of the Ollerton defence and they had to stay strong when a goal mouth scramble ended with Conor Green blocking the ball on the line.

With an hour gone on the clock, Ollerton were almost given a fortuitous third as Grady's free kick was headed onto the face of his own bar by a Worsbrough defender. Lumley got to the rebound first, directing the ball back into the middle, where Foster saw a shot blocked.

The game was then brought to a halt by a serious wrist injury to Worsbrough's Lewis O'Connor. Ollerton's very own Conor Green stepped up to use his skills and experience to aid Lewis before he was eventually able to exit the field, allowing the game to get back underway.

Despite that set back, Worsbrough still looked lively and the introduction of substitute Harley Holt soon made the difference as he got the goal to draw them level. Picking the ball up on the left flank, Holt cut inside before bending a shot past Coombs and into the far corner.

With substantial added time to come, the momentum was now with the hosts but that soon disappeared as Alex Hutchinson was shown a straight red card in the 89th minute for kicking out at an Ollerton player.

Steve Bodle's men tried to make that man advantage count in the time they had left but the closest they came was when Grady saw a poked effort go well over the bar from just inside the area.

Photos by Jazz Owen