Matlby Main 0-1 North Ferriby

A late Danny Buttle goal ensures North Ferriby left Muglet Lane with a 1-0 victory over Maltby Main.

The victory keeps the Villagers top of the table as well as maintaining their 100% record in the league.

Chris Bolder made five changes from the defeat at FC St Helens. In came Henry Hampshaw, Liam Nelthorpe, Niall Tilsley, Louis Kirk and Joel Shortland. It was the first start for Liam Nelthorpe since last October.

The first half was scrappy with both sides looking for the breakthrough. Ferriby had most of the possession but couldn’t find a way through. Bolder’s side looked to play the ball into the box and found the Maltby Main hard to crack.

The best chance of the half fell to the home side as Richard Tracey was played through behind the Ferriby defence, however, his effort was saved low by Hampshaw.

The Villagers stepped up a gear in the second half and showed some more attacking intent. Lewis Stephens was played in behind the Maltby defence but was flagged for offside. Danny Emerton had a shot but didn’t test Parkin in the Maltby goal. More good play from the Villagers presented Stephens with another opportunity but this time he shot over.

Maltby went close but a header off the line denied a corner going on directly. Hampshaw ensured the scores stayed level as he saved an effort from close range.

It was the Villagers who next went close when a cross from Danny Buttle eventually found Liam Dickens at the back post, but Parkin saved his effort.

The games definitive moment happened in the 79th minute. A long throw-in from Josh Dennett from just inside the Maltby half found Danny East in the Maltby area. East found himself behind the defence and nodded the ball on. A mix-up between Parkin and one of his defenders allowed the ball to roll to Danny Buttle who poked home the ball.

There was a tense moment for the Villagers as a long-range effort crashed back off the post.

North Ferriby boss Chris Bolder summed up his thoughts after the game, “It’s a difficult place to come, they’ve got some big lads in there and some useful set plays, but we defended our box well. We would like to have played a little bit more, but sometimes conditions and opposition don’t allow you to do that. I thought we did the basics really well tonight, we had a couple of glimpses of nice patterns of play, and we were a little bit unfortunate not to get on the end of some nice balls into the box.”

North Ferriby: Hampshaw, Nelthorpe (Dennett), Tilsley, Donald (Start), Smaller, Kirk, Dickens, Shortland Forrester) East, Emerton, Stephens (Buttle).
Sub not used: Rowan

Report kindly provided by North Ferriby.