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Winteringham FC Reserves 4 v 1 Kirton Rangers
(Half time: 0-1)
Scunthorpe Sunday League Division 5
by Anthony Hubbard
Winteringham goalscorers: Dick Martin, Luke McMahon, Dave Bramhall 2
Winteringham Man of the Match: Karl Hull
Photographs by www.lifeinphotos.co.uk
On a very frosty morning Winteringham took on Kirton Rangers on a near rock solid pitch. After being sharply knocked out of two cup competitions in recent weeks, it was time to focus on the league. Both teams began a little shakily and struggled to adapt to the conditions, and with the ball bobbling all over it was hard for both sides to find any rhythm in the early stages. The first chance of the game fell to Dom Bowdler who shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area. A chance fell to Phil Denham moments later, unfortunately he was unable to direct Dom’s cross goalwards. Kirton’s first chance came from a long punt up field, the Winteringham defence failed to clear the ball and it dropped to the Kirton striker who wasted no time in firing the ball past Ian Berridge. In all fairness it was Kirton’s only real chance of note in the first half, but they took it well.
After the goal Winteringham picked up their game and started to create some really good chances, but were unable to find the back of the net. A free kick was awarded about 30 yards from goal, Dom Bowdler stepped up and his thunderous shot whistled past the corner of the goal. Chances soon followed for Sean Stevenson and Phil Denham, but unfortunately they were unable to really test the keeper and Kirton went into the half time interval leading by the only goal.
Winteringham manager Ian Brown was forced into a change at half time with goal keeper Ian Berridge having picked up a muscle injury; he was replaced by Ben Griffiths. Winteringham carried on pressing in the second half looking for an equaliser, which didn’t look likely to come as they found the Kirton keeper in fine form, he pulled off some really good saves. Kirton were working hard to hang on to their lead and seemed determined not to let it slip without a fight. They adopted a long ball game in a bid not to over expose themselves, with Karl Hull at the back this played straight into Winteringham’s hands and dominated everything in the air. A chance fell to Luke McMahon on the edge of the area, he fired a shot towards the bottom right hand corner, but the Kirton keeper pulled off a fine save and pushed the ball round the post. The resulting corner was crossed in by Luke and met by Mark Bennett whose header was once again saved by the keeper.
On 65 minutes Ian Brown made a tactical double substitution bringing on Anth Hubbard and Dave Bramhall. Anth went onto the left hand side of midfield pushing Sean Stevenson up top. It wasn’t long before both substitutes got involved in the game, Dave and Anth linked up well to create an opportunity to cross in the box, Anth delivered a good ball into the back post, unfortunately no Winteringham player managed to get on the end of it. Moments later some more good work down the left earned Winteringham a corner. It was swung in by Dom Bowdler, Karl Hull met the cross with force and headed goalwards, the keeper pulled off another good save, but this time the ball dropped straight to Dick Martin who simply tapped the ball into the net.
The momentum was now well and truly with the home side, and they carried on pushing forward looking to take the lead. Dom Bowdler found himself in space down the right, he crossed into the box, Anth Hubbard got on the end of the cross but his head went high and wide. Winteringham were now looking dangerous, and they earned another corner on the left hand side. It was again swung in by Dom Bowdler, Karl Hull headed the cross towards the goal which was handled on the line by a Kirton player, and the referee wasted no time in awarding a penalty. Up stepped Luke McMahon to blast the ball past the keeper into the back of the net. The Kirton players were now beginning to tire and with no substitutes to bring on they were there for the taking. Winteringham continued to press down both flanks. A good ball into the box from Luke McMahon was cleared by a Kirton defender, but unfortunately for Kirton the ball dropped straight to Dave Bramhall. Dave didn’t waste the opportunity and rifled the ball into the top left corner of the net. It was a real net buster. Dave scored a second minutes later, again it came from a cross from the right hand side, Kirton failed to clear and Dave latched onto the loose ball and blasted past the Kirton keeper. Dom Bowdler thought he’d scored moments before the final whistle, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
It was a deserved victory in the end, Kirton did battle but once Winteringham scored the equalising goal there was going to be only one winner. Karl Hull was back to his best and despite the goal was superb throughout and won everything in the air. Dom Bowdler was a threat all game and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet, but in all fairness it was his first full 90 minutes in nearly 18 months. Some credit should go to manager Ian Brown for the victory, his tactical changes at the right time changed the game in Winteringham’s favour. It was Winteringham's second successive victory in the league and they are finally starting to move in the right direction.
Next up it's Ashby Villa, 2pm kick off at West Common Lane, Scunthorpe.
Winteringham:
Ian Berridge (Ben Griffiths 45 min)
Ben Barker Mick Wraith Karl Hull Dick Martin
Luke McMahon Dave Burton (Dave Bramhall 65 min) Mark Bennett Sean Stevenson
Phil Denham (Anth Hubbard 65 min) Dom Bowdler
Photographs by www.lifeinphotos.co.uk
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Click here for the page of match photos - 2
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