West Yorkshire Premier Division First Team 1 - 0 Howden Clough
This match seemed destined for classification as a dull draw before Simon Haddock popped up at the far post in the 87th minute to head Sherburn to an unconvincing victory.
The visitors lined up with five across the middle, with Sherburn playing their now familiar midfield diamond. As a result much of the first half, even allowing for the gusting wind, was a dull tactical battle, with Sherburn unable to punch any holes through the crowded midfield. Mark Bradley was isolated up front for long periods, and one occasion had to bring the ball back 15 yards to find any support.
Playing against the wind it took until the 35th minute for Sherburn to create anything resembling a chance. A short corner move resulted in Alex Booth finding himself in space on the edge of the box, only to have his shot blocked. A few minutes later and some crisp passing ended with Bradley playing the ball through for Booth to run onto. But the pass was just too long, and the Clough keeper got there first. Booth was booked, either for the marginally late tackle, or some equally harmless pushing and shoving with some Clough players who took exception to his challenge.
The visitors showed little ambition, allowing the wind to dictate their tactics, and Sherburn’s keeper, Simon Hudson, spent most of the half retrieving speculative passes. One long range effort sailed harmlessly over the bar, and the only real chance came just before half time, when the Clough number 7 shot wide from about 20 yards out.
Sherburn started the second half showing more inclination to push the full backs forward, but the pattern of the game remained much the same. It wasn’t long before both sides made changes. Jamie Wainwright made way for Adam Priestley, and Jamie Middleton came on for Scott Williams. Priestley promptly squandered the best chance of the game so far. The Clough keeper fluffed a goal kick, and Priestley took advantage of the indecision of two defenders to nip in, and dink the ball past the stranded keeper, only to see his shot go wide. As the game opened up the visitors then enjoyed their best period. Twice the Clough no. 10 found space on the left to whip in dangerous crosses to the far post.
Mathew Wilde replaced the hard working Ben Webster with 20 minutes to go, and Sherburn switched to 4-3-3. Almost immediately Priestley, cutting in from the left, shot across the face of the goal. Booth then found space on the right to get in a cross, which the keeper only succeed in pushing out as far as Haddock, who headed over. At the other end, and the visitors no. 12 found the side netting, following another good move down the left side.
A draw still seemed likely when in the dying minutes the deadlock was finally broken. Booth, again drifting into space on the right, chipped the ball to the far post for Haddock to head home. Clough pressed forward in injury time, but by then it was too late.
***
Selby and District Invitation League Division 2 Third Team 4 - 1 Kellington
Sherburn returned to winning ways with a hard fought victory over a much improved Kellington.
Enforced changes were made with the late withdrawals of Collins and Williams.
The new pairing of Liddle and O’Neil at centre half worked well with both looking composed and organised. Behind them Lee Kelsey took over keeping duties. Withington, Varley, Isherwood and Young all returned to squad following last weeks defeat.
Sherburn opened the scoring on 15 minutes, after neat work down the left by Varley and Liddle a short ball gave Johnson the opening to rifle home from 12 yards. Withington scored on 30 minutes when he was first to react to a low near post corner clipping the ball home.
Kellington were then awarded a free kick in their own half, on a small pitch and with the wind assisting, a speculative kick sailed over the Keeper who was still organising his defence to make it 2-1.
Kellington started strongly in the second half with Sherburn old boy Joe Raper showing some neat touches.
The game was effectively won when a channelled pass from Bradley allowed Varley to outpace the home defence and round the keeper and score from an acute angle. Shortly afterwards Varley made way for Isherwood, and it was Isherwood who added the fourth 10 minutes from time by running onto a long punt from Kelsey and rounding the home keeper.
A good performance against a committed Kellington team.
***
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