NPL (North-East Division)
Saturday 16th March 2024
And I’ve now seen my fourth 0-0 draw this season!
In fairness, this game wasn’t the worst by any means - even if there were no goals - and there was always a nervous type of excitement/trepidation of what might happen next right until the full-time whistle, but ultimately neither could find a breakthrough and get what would have been a huge win for them.
In what was dubbed a relegation ‘six-pointer’ by many beforehand with Ossett (18th) and Winterton (19th) and separated by that important dotted dividing line that is the difference between safety and relegation, Winterton were probably the better team overall (thus also the more disappointed not to get three points) and they had the better chances.
However, they just couldn’t find a way past Callum Hiddleston in goal for Ossett who was in inspired form, deserved the ‘Man Of The Match’ award and pulled off 4-5 very good saves to again underline his value and keep his first clean-sheet in senior football. Proof of what someone can achieve with confidence and self-belief because when you’ve got it, everything feels a million times easier. Hence why I back him so much, and with all the other little aspects of his game being solid (such as kicking, commanding of his box, distribution, handling and vocality, etc), it was a pleasure to witness this little landmark in his career and see him performing at his best.
There were also some familiar faces on show in Winterton’s team too; one being Bailey Adamson who has extended his loan from Lincoln City’s U18s until the end of the season where he’s bagged 30 goals in just over a season-and-a-half, Russell Berko (also contracted to the Imps), and also Tom Parkinson who was signed on loan from Gainsborough Trinity this week, was previously in the youth team at Doncaster Rovers where I watched him loads, and he’ll add pace, decent deliveries and an attacking presence on the left-wing when he eventually gets some minutes. In this game he was an unused sub but his time will surely come over - and hopefully it’ll be a chance for him to get a smile back on his face and get playing regularly again (at which point everything feels so much easier).
In the 90 minutes itself, there were lots of elements about this game which made it difficult for both teams.
The pitch wasn’t the best - bobbly in many places. The officials were ‘inconsistent’ (being polite) and they left both sides frustrated and complaining about similar things. And the overall pressure of the occasion with it being a ‘six-pointer’ was evident too and it was easy to see there were some nerves on show and nobody wanted to make a mistake.
Still, it wasn’t the worst game ever!
In the first half, Ossett played some neat football at times and kept the ball alright. It was noticeable and Stafford Clarke made some good contributions in the No.11 shirt for Ossett by working hard individually, but collectively the Sheepicorns just couldn’t get that final ball right - and when they did, usually the linesman was quick to raise his flag and judge Alex Peterson to be offside (not always correctly either). Frustrating!
Winterton had more pressure/territory which culminated in a couple of chances just past the half-hour mark as Paul Grimes’ free-kick flicked off a head and was creeping into the bottom corner until Callum Hiddleston tipped it around the post, then he denied Sam Aynsley by saving with his feet at his near-post and when the hosts also won a free-kick on the edge of the box, Owen Vincent couldn’t get it on target.
In the second half, it was largely uneventful for a while. Ossett lost a couple of players to injury and had a lot of corners which didn’t really lead to anything, Winterton eventually threw on Bailey Adamson and Russell Berko in response with about 15 minutes left to play, and it’s at that point the game started to open up with a few chances as both teams went close to a winner.
Paul Grimes fired over when the best option would have been to square it to Berko in a better position, then just after that Owen Vincent weaved his way into the box and when he eventually let fly, his shot was palmed away by Callum Hiddleston and in stoppage-time he then denied Bailey Adamson with his feet. Ossett themselves had a chance at the other end where Alex Peterson let fly with an attempt that was on target and had Nathan Popple scampering back and he just managed to get to the ball in the nick of time to prevent a goal.
But 0-0 in the end… and no change at the bottom of the table! The only thing of note being that both teams gained a point on Grantham who lost away to Stockton.
A far better day from Ossett’s perspective as opposed to Winterton’s but with nine games of the season remaining for both teams nothing is decided yet and it’s onto the next one!
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