Mid-Season Friendly – December 12, 2020
Ossett United 3-0 Athersley Recreation
__By Neil Spofforth
__
- A lot of football is about numbers, be it goals scored, points won or the
attendance amongst other things, but the number that starts this report is the number of days since Ossett United last took to the field due to the most
recent lockdown and restrictions.
Hope the current pause on the Northern Premier League will soon change
comes from the news from Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) that supporters, although in limited numbers, can return to non-league grounds.
Riding on this hope, Ossett United manager Wayne Benn arranged a mid-season friendly with Athersley Recreation.
One positive of the enforced break was the opportunity for the players suffering injuries to rest, with key central defenders Jack Cowgill and Eddie Cass both named on the team sheet.
Pre-match no one expected a pretty game with a heavy pitch underfoot but those in the ground, and watching via the live stream, will have been pleasantly
surprised by the Ossett United performance with plenty of good football on
show.
It was a positive start with United winning an early corner and a new look
forward line of Green, Normanton and Dyche causing problems. All
three looked lively and it was Normanton who went close with a whipped shot
inches wide.
Charlie Farrar in the visitors goal was on top form making a number of key
saves to keep the scores level, and it looked for all the world that was how it
would be at half time until a free-kick was awarded to Ossett United in the 41st
minute.
Green stood over the ball 25 yards from goal, his curling effort looking destined for the top corner until it took a wicked deflection off the wall leaving Farrar no chance as the ball looped into the opposite side of the
goal.
Dyche was unlucky not to double the lead as the half time whistle blew with
the visiting number one making another point blank
save.
Wayne Benn made eight changes at half time, which didn’t change the game’s flow as United continuing to press forward. Reggie Waud doubled the lead as he held off a defender well before firing a well struck shot into the near post.
A third followed soon after from Aaron Haswell, one of the most improved players
this season.
Ossett United saw out the game with few problems, but a cameo appearance from
the visitors veteran player/manager Shane Kelsey almost brought a consolation goal. Cutting in from the right hand side his well struck shot dipping wickedly just over the cross bar.
It was a good work out for both sides, hopefully we don’t have to wait 49 days
for a game again this season.
From everyone at Ossett United, we would like to wish everyone in Ossett and
Horbury a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
