Ollerton Town warm-up for tournament with impressive win

It was Ollerton’s first game since the 10th April, when they put in a disappointing performance against Belper United, but they were much improved against Carlton and if fans had been allowed in to watch the game, they may have struggled to believe there was a two division gap between the sides.

Ollerton could have taken the lead inside the opening minute. Straight from kick off, James Matthews attempted an audacious lob from inside his own half, but it dropped just wide of Toby Randall’s goal.

When Ollerton did take the lead, it was Matthews who did so, just before the half hour mark.

He stepped up to a free kick 25 yards out and brilliantly curled the ball over the wall, past the despairing dive of Randall and into the back of the net.

Just after half time, it 2-0. Randall misjudged a long ball over the top of his defence and after it bounced over him, Ben Partridge was on hand to take a touch and tap into the empty net.

The visitors had their goalkeeper to thank on the hour mark after he denied Carlton a way back into the game. Former Mansfield Town youngster, Tyler Blake, beat the offside trap and raced through on goal but Levi Owen stood his ground and made a crucial save.

Ollerton made it 3-0 with twenty minutes left on the clock. Luis Rose delivered a teasing corner from the right and the ball made its way to the back post where Brandon Shaw was waiting to fire home with aplomb.

Owen was once again called into action to earn his clean sheet and it was Blake who he once again frustrated. Jack Gibson headed Niall Davie’s free kick towards the direction of Blake who rose to power a header at goal, only to see Owen acrobatically tip the ball over the bar.

Ollerton Town Starting XI: Owen; Slack, Vardy; A. Morley, Madin, Shaw; Stretton, Martin, Matthews; Rose, Partridge

Subs On: Bain, Fletcher, Hardwick, Watson