Owen saves penalty in Ollerton's best defensive display of season

Pleased Ollerton Town survived a missed penalty and eased their relegation fears with their best defensive display of the season so far in the First Division of the Northern Counties East League.
Manager Dave Winter, who was pleased with a clean sheet for his Ollerton Town side.Manager Dave Winter, who was pleased with a clean sheet for his Ollerton Town side.
Manager Dave Winter, who was pleased with a clean sheet for his Ollerton Town side.

Ollerton were held to a goalless draw at home by mid-table Hallam, the second oldest football club in the world, who are celebrating their 160th anniversary.

But Dave Winter’s men were more than happy with a clean sheet, especially after goalkeeper Levi Owen had saved a 56th minute spot-kick. And they also welcomed the fact that they created more chances at the other end than in recent weeks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The only two teams below them in the table, Harrogate Railway Athletic and East Hull, also lost, so it all augured well for a run of three away games coming up for Ollerton, beginning on Saturday at ninth-placed Armthorpe Welfare.

A swirling wind made things difficult, but Ollerton could have been in front inside the second minute. Lewis Murr picked the ball up in the Hallam half, moved forward and hit a cracking shot from 25 yards that was heading for the top corner until ‘keeper James Leverton pulled off a tremendous save, tipping over.

Mind you, Hallam responded in kind and went even closer to the breakthrough goal when Jordan Turner's free-kick from the edge of the box beat the defensive wall, but was superbly saved by Owen, who turned the ball on to a post.

For the next 20 minutes, the game flowed from end to end before Ollerton almost struck just after the half-hour. George Slack rose highest to meet a corner, only for his header to be cleared off the line by Kiyani Clayton, and the loose ball was scrambled to safety.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dominant in midfield, the hosts were looking the side most likely to score, although the first half ended with tempers flared after a controversial clash in midfield between Ollerton’s Sean Dickinson and the visitors’ Julian Lawrence.

The match continued to be competitive in the second half, but Hallam created the best chances. First, an excellent strike by Turner rebounded to safety off the bar before the penalty, which was awarded when Murr handled as he challenged for a header. Up stepped visiting captain Sam Smith to smash the ball to Owen’s left, but the ‘keeper got a strong hand on the ball, which diverted it over the bar.

Hallam stepped up the pressure, but after weathering the storm, Ollerton played their way back into the game, and midfielder Lewis Price threatened with a 25-yard shot that brought a fine save from Leverton.