Having held the lead for a long period of the game Ossett Town Reds had to settle for a point after a late penalty gave Goole FC a deserved equalizer. Ossett will now need to win their final League game to improve their position in the table to third behind Goole FC and Houghton Main.
In an evenly contested first half Ossett took the lead after 22 minutes, following a long clearance by goalkeeper Carl Widdrington centre forward Danny Clay was able to head the ball into the path of Ben Njie who held off a Goole defender before finding the net with his shot.
Ossett goalkeeper Widdrington was again in the action after 30 minutes, this time producing a fine save diving to his left to push away a shot from twelve yards.
Ossett almost extended their lead on the stroke of half time through Ashley Grint. After Goole had initially defended a corner Phil Williams was able to retrieve the ball wide on the right and cross deep into the Goole area, Ben Njie won the first header but as the ball fell to Grint he was unable to keep his header on target and saw the ball loop just over the crossbar.
Half Time: - Goole FC 0 v Ossett Town Reds 1
In fairness Goole had slightly better of the second half as they pressed for an equalizer and they forced a number of corners which troubled the Ossett defence and produced a number of chances for the home side. From a 65th minute corner a free header was put wide, then the Ossett defence rode their luck first from a 69th minute corner when another free header was headed down into the ground only to bounce and graze the top of the crossbar, then from a 79th minute corner a close range shot again hit the Ossett crossbar before being scrambled away.
Two minutes later however Ossett conceded a ‘soft’ penalty for a high foot inside the box, the spot kick was dispatched easily to bring the scores level.
Ossett almost snatched a late winner when having carried the ball out of midfield Ben Njie put Danny Clay through on goal, however the Goole goalkeeper closed him down and made an excellent block from Clay’s shot.
Full Time: - Goole FC 1 v Ossett Town Reds 1
Man of the match for Ossett Town: - Luke Newsome, James Shires
Goal scorers for Ossett Town: - Ben Njie
SUNDAY 4th JANUARY 2009
CHARLES RICE JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE U17’s
SUPREME PREMIER DIVISION
NETHERTON JUNIORS 1 v OSSETT TOWN REDS 2
Date: - 4th January 2009 Kick Off: - 12:30p.m.
Due to postponements and the recent Christmas break Ossett Town Reds had not played a match since 23rd November but returned to League action with an impressive performance at Netherton Juniors. Eventually winning the game by 2 – 1 the margin would have been wider but for the Netherton goalkeeper who made a number of saves, and some ‘rustiness’ in front of goal from the Ossett strike force.
Ossett took control of the game after the first few minutes and had already been close through Nat Sulak before taking the lead after 19 minutes. Following a throw in Ben Njie’s pass found Michael Liversidge in space on the left corner of the Netherton penalty area, Liversidges right foot strike across goal found the back of the net via the inside of the far post.
Ossett continued to dominate after the goal and much of the game was played in the Netherton half, however despite coming close with efforts from Phil Williams, who was causing Netherton problems at corners with his movement and height, Ben Njie and Jordan Heyes they were unable to extend their lead.
Half Time: - Netherton Juniors 0 v Ossett Town Reds 1
Ben Njie had already had two great opportunities to extend Ossett’s lead early in the second half but could take neither, Netherton then had their best spell of the game for a fifteen minute period which could have changed the game had they found a goal.
Having restricted Netherton’s chances during this period Ossett finally found a second goal after 66 minutes, the ball was worked in from the left wing to find Ben Njie who was able to make room for a shot from distance which beat the diving Netherton keeper.
Ossett saw out the rest of the game with reasonable comfort and it took Netherton until virtually the last kick of the game to get their goal which game from a corner when a near post header fell amongst a number of players before a Netherton boot prodded home.
Full Time: - Netherton Juniors 1 v Ossett Town Reds 2
Man of the match for Ossett Town: - Luke Newsome
Goal scorers for Ossett Town: - Michael Liversidge, Ben Njie
SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2008
CHARLES RICE JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE U17’s
SUPREME PREMIER DIVISION
OSSETT TOWN REDS 4 v 0 HOYLAND TOWN
Ossett Town Reds made it three out of three home wins in the league, and kept their first clean sheet of the season with a 4 – 0 defeat over Hoyland Town. Ossett dominated the game throughout and adapted to the difficult playing conditions, caused by an icy wind and a very muddy pitch, much better than Hoyland and secured victory with all four goals coming in the first half. Ossett took the lead with an early goal when Nat Sulak struck a left foot shot from outside the box after 4 minutes. Without coming under any real pressure at the back Ossett’s dominance of the game brought three further goals at regular stages throughout the half, the second arriving on 20 minutes through Luke Newsome. After 33 minutes Carl Thompson scored the third goal after Michael Liversidge’s volley from a corner had initially been blocked. The fourth and best goal came on the stroke of half time when Ossett put an excellent move together breaking out of defence, the ball eventually being played to Nat Saluk who scored with his second left foot drive of the day.
Half Time: - Ossett Town Reds 4 v Hoyland Town 0
Hoyland acquitted themselves better in the second half but were still unable to create any clear-cut chances as Ossett coped well defensively. At the other end Ossett may well have increased their margin of victory where Ben Njie had two headed opportunities but was denied first by a post and secondly by the Hoyland goalkeeper. In stoppage time Ossett again hit the woodwork when Husam Atif hit the crossbar from a tight angle after beating two or three Hoyland defenders on his run into the penalty area.
Full Time: - Ossett Town Reds 4 v Hoyland Town 0
Man of the match for Ossett Town: - Georgie Tate
Goal scorers for Ossett Town: - Nat Sulak (2), Luke Newsome, Carl Thompson
SUNDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 2008
Goole FC 3 v 2 Ossett Town Reds
Goalscorers: Luke Newsome, Phil Williams
Man of the match for Ossett Town: - Ashley Grint
Ossett Town Reds were knocked out of the Invitation Cup Preliminary round in an away game at Goole FC, loosing out to a late goal after twice having the lead in the match. Ossett had taken an early lead in the game through Luke Newsome. A Phil Williams free kick from the half way line was played into the Goole penalty area and with no player getting a touch Newsome ‘sneaked’ in round the back of the defence to prod home. In fairness, playing with a stiff breeze behind them, Goole were able to push Ossett back for long periods of the half but Ossett defended well as a unit and were able to limit the number of Goole chances. However they had a lucky escape after 15 minutes when firstly a Goole player beat the offside trap but his attempted ‘lob’ of the advancing goalkeeper, saw Carl Widdrington just get his finger tips to the ball to deflect it wide. Following the corner the ball eventually came back into the Ossett area where a Goole header came back off the crossbar, this time with Widdrington beaten. Goole did equalize after 34 minutes with a breakaway goal started in their own penalty area. Ossett found themselves short of numbers at the back as the break developed down the left wing, the ball eventually being squared in front of goal for an unmarked Goole player to score. Playing with the breeze Ossett made a good start to the second half and had already trouble Goole and forced a number of corners before again taking the lead after 61 minutes. Having been awarded a corner on the left, Luke Newsome hit the ball deep to the far post where the unmarked Phil Williams scored with a powerful header. Four minutes later however Williams had another impact on the game, albeit an unfortunate one. Attempting to prevent a cross the ball was played against his arm, being inside the penalty area the referee awarded Goole a penalty, which was converted. As the game looked to be heading for extra time, with just five minutes remaining Goole scored the winner. As the Ossett defence advanced after defending a corner the ball was played back through where the Goole player was adjudged to have timed his run to beat offside, he was then able to beat goalkeeper Widdrington to score.
