Injury-time penalty breaks Ollerton Town hearts

Lewis Bingham (blue), who went close to scoring for Ollerton Town.

Improving Ollerton were on the brink of a goalless draw to stretch their unbeaten run to four matches in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League, First Division.

But then Tom Moody was adjudged to have fouled as Winterton piled on the pressure in injury-time, and although the visitors insisted it had taken place outside the box, the referee pointed to the spot.

Nathan Peat proceeded to convert the kick and deliver a gut-wrenching blow that Ollerton’s industrious performance hardly deserved.

Dave Winter’s side made the trip to Hull full of confidence after three straight wins, and they refused to be intimidated by the hosts’ impressive record as title fancies.

Winterton dominated possession, but struggled with Ollerton’s aggressive pressing and failed to create many clearcut chances in the opening half.

In contrast, the visitors’ short passing and interplay was encouraging to watch. Lewis Bingham tested the ‘keeper after a neat one-two with Sam Foulds, and then an interception by Moody on the halfway-line triggered a counter-attack that led to Ben Partridge turning a close-range effort narrowly wide.

However, Winterton came on strong towards the interval when penalty claims were turned down, and Ollerton goalkeeper Levi Owen was forced into a couple of smart saves.

The surge was a prelude for what was to come because the leaders upped the tempo and intensity in the second half and really began to assert their dominance.

Jamie Ture was dangerous and was the subject of another penalty appeal that was waved away by the referee.

The pressure continued to ramp up, with Winterton looking more and more likely to score as Ollerton retreated deeper and deeper. But at the same time, Owen was rarely troubled, which made the late spot-kick all the more difficult to take.

The defeat left Ollerton 16th in the 20-team table, but 11 points clear of the bottom two.

This Saturday, they face another stiff test, at home to Winterton's chief rivals for the title, second-placed Selby Town. The following Saturday (February 22), they are away to Rossington Main.