North Ferriby 1-0 Hallam
In a huge clash at the top of the NCEL Division one table, it was North Ferriby who took all three points against Hallam. It was a resolute performance by the Villagers who on the balance of play more than deserved the points.
The Villagers were the side who made the brighter start to the game and had a few chances early on. Jamie Forrester was involved early on and tested Hallam keeper Myles Wright in the opening minute. Forrester was also given the opportunity to open the scoring from a free-kick just outside the area. The midfielder’s effort went wide of the goal, however.
Josh Whitley was impressive all afternoon with his work rate and tested Wright with a low effort that the keeper saved well at the front post. The Villagers continued to assert themselves in the game and continued to have the majority of first-half chances. Whitley was in the action again as he was put through on goal by a brilliant pass from Tom Corner. The Ferriby striker lifted a shot over Myles Wright but hit the post and bounced into the path of a Hallam defender to clear any further danger.
Hallam striker Chris Wood reminded the Villagers of the threat posed by his usual free-scoring side as he found space in the box but couldn’t get enough power on his header to really trouble Jordan Douglas in the Ferriby goal.
The Villagers kept pressing and looking for the opener but despite efforts from Danny East who hit a shot over and some last-ditch Hallam defending kept the scores level at the break.
The second half did not possess as many chances due to the game getting slightly scrappy. It was the visitors who had the first chance of the half as an effort from Josh Scully was brilliantly saved by Douglas who impressively tipped the midfielders long-range effort over the bar.
It was on the 67th minute that the deadlock was broken and it was half time substitute Danny Buttle who was the man to do so. Ben Leyland received the ball on the touchline and played a ball forward to Buttle who found space behind the Hallam defence. Buttle ran towards the goal and saw his initial effort saved by the on-rushing Wright but the keeper’s save hit Buttle and bounced over the Hallam keeper and the ball rustled in the goal.
The Villagers nearly put the game out of reach as a Jamie Forrester effort cannoned back off the bar after great work in the build-up from Matty Plummer and Danny East.
The visitors thought they had earned a point with what would prove to be the last kick of the game. A long ball found Chris Salt who headed the ball on towards substitute Kieron Watson. The attacker poked the ball past Douglas to send the visiting supporters into celebration. The linesman had put his flag up and deemed Watson was offside from the header that put him through.
Chris Bolder summed the afternoon up at the end of the game, “The lads put in a great shift today and if we are being ultra-critical, we can’t afford to miss as many chances as we did today and make it a close game”. Bolder discussed his sides dominance in the first half, “At half time we’ve had 12 attempts and 7 on target. The keepers made some good saves but we need to make sure we are more clinical but at the end of the day we will take a 1-0 victory”.
Report kindly provided by North Ferriby.
North Ferriby FC: 1) Douglas 2) Nelthorpe (15. Dennett) 3) Leyland 4) Tarbotton 5) Plummer 6) Forrester 7) Emerton 8) Kirk 9) Whiteley 10) East 11) Corner (12. Buttle).
Subs not used: 13) Exall 14) Jowett 16) McFadyen
Hallam: 1) Wright 2) Brownell 3) Smith 4) Salt 5) Wankiewicz 6) Bradbury 7) Patterson 8) Scully 9) Wilson 10) Wood (20. Watson) 11) Royles (22. Gregory).
Subs not used: 15) Birks 17) Pemberton 21) Wooley
