Athersley Recreation 0 - 1 Wombwell Town: Narrow margins in Rec's defeat to Wombwell

A close contest at Sheerien Park between Rec and title-chasing Wombwell Town saw the hosts beaten by a single goal on Tuesday evening, a long throw-in routine the difference as Rec were beaten 1-0 by The Wellers.

Words By Ben Swain

Jack Dando, up from the back, was one of several Wombwell targets crowding Rec’s box from the throw from the right to decide the NCEL Division One tie by flicking the ball goalward.

Wombwell’s success in transitioning from back to front was countered by Rec with pace, most prominently through Carter Tingle who had the hosts’ best chance, lifting the ball over.

Charlie Auty returned as well as taking responsibility of the captaincy in Nathan Perks’ absence. Finn Taylor’s debut was backed up by three further changes in Aaran Turner, Alfie Bakes and Jack Briscoe.

Rec were blocked in having the opening opportunity two minutes in as Tingle controlled well on the edge of the box with his back to goal, continually shuffling the ball further to the right but with an obstacle in the way consistently stopping the shooting chance.

Oliver Fearon was lucky the ball squeezed through Rec’s defence several minutes later, enough ahead of him to give Levi Owen a chance to get his foot to the ball first.

Fearon’s backed up by Owen Fieldsend for a deep cross on ten minutes but the former reached it himself, albeit lacking power on the header, giving Owen an easy catch.

Briscoe started some sustained possession for Rec on fourteen minutes with strong hold-up play for several seconds before playing the ball back to Jacob Morton. Alfie Bakes took over and with a drag-back, changed direction to evade pressure and was able to pass wide-left to Taylor. The move planned to end with Briscoe too but the pass was too heavy.

Levi Owen matched being called upon to keep the score level, a crucial save on sixteen minutes. James Byford had made sure he hadn’t needed his ‘keeper before and after that inside the first-half, alert to the early aerial entries into Rec’s box to clear with his head.

Carter Tingle had Rec’s best chance with three minutes of the first-half left, through on goal with a defender on his shoulder, rising a shot from the edge of the box over the bar.

Byford was quickly inundated with Wombwell’s aerial approach three minutes into the second-half, holding off Fearon initially, on Owen’s toes, to be the first head to the ball, having just moments earlier diverted Jason Paling’s cross from the right away from goal.

Owen literally put his body on the line to save Rec again after five minutes of the restart. He dived to his right, taking the ball into his midriff in the process when Cian Guest was the beneficiary of another delivery from wide. Owen was momentarily winded but continued.

It was a similar situation for the goal and only moment that separated the side in 18th against one with a strong possibility at the title. A long-throw in from the right continued all the way to Jack Dando who, amongst the crowd, had just enough time to flick the ball goalward which then passed Owen.

Rec’s ‘keeper kept the difference at one with two impressive saves within four minutes of each other as the game entered the final half-hour. Firstly, Joshua Nodder’s approach to goal was a low one for a change as Owen stopped with his right foot as the forward looked across goal. He was free of a marker towards the right-hand side of Rec’s goal as he raced clear.

The second stop was with the opposite leg after Jordan Kershaw benefitted from a failed clearance by Owen’s defenders in front of him, Kershaw running one-on-one but despite the odds, Owen won the contest low to his left.

Rec’s number one proved his efficiency in attack, his kick straight over the back of Wombwell’s defence and to Bakes. The angle’s tighter than he’d liked and decided to square to Briscoe who’s beaten to the pass.

In mimicking Wombwell, Rec’s deep free-kick landing in the visitors’ box allowed Morton to poke a loose, bouncing ball through the pack as we entered the final fifteen minutes. Whilst the touch is heavy, the decision is corner.

A second attempt fell to Taylor beyond the far post who appeared to slice his shot as his flies over.

Bailey’s route out of Rec’s half was halted till added-time where he chased a ball down the left-hand touchline. Shifting side-to-side, he’s able to create space towards the byline for a cross which drops into Charlie Dando’s hands at his neat post.

That confirmed Wombwell took home the points after just the single deciding moment.

The run of three home games concludes on Saturday when Selby Town visit Sheerien Park in the league.