Match Report. Yorkshire & Humberside League First Division West

KNARESBOROUGH 0 OSSETT ALBION LADIES 3

Ossett Albion kicked off their Y&H League season today with a solid 3-0 win over Knaresborough. With a full squad to choose from it was a tough choice for manager Martin Dearie and with all wanting to play a part in the first match the competition for places was strong.

Albion managed to break through Knaresborough’s defence as early as the second minute when Tanya Rich found space wide left but from the edge of the area her shot went high and wide, Ossett’s midfield got on top early with Rachel Powch running the show from the centre and she set up a move for winger Clare Thomasson via a crossed ball from Rich but Thomasson could not direct the shot goal bound and another chance went missing. More and more chances were being created with Albion camped out in Knaresborough’s half for long periods but a combination of good defending and poor finishing kept the score at 0-0.

Thankfully Albion kept patient and eventually their good positive play got some reward when sweeper Gemma Patterson played a ball through to the attack which Rich was very quick to latch onto, however she had found herself clean through before, but rather than hit a power shot she drew the keeper and slotted it past her to the right which found the back of the net for 1-0.

Albion grew in confidence from there and played some good football always getting the ball wide whenever possible to the two wingers, Thomasson and Jenkins. Ossett looked strong from set plays also as tall defender Jo Barnes made trouble for the Knaresborough defence on more than one occasion. From a corner routine Albion so nearly grabbed a second when the ball fell to Powch on the edge of the area and with a chest and volley she had the keeper scurrying back to goal with the ball just missing the crossbar. With Knaresborough pushed back into their own half they were restricted to counter attacking which on one occasion almost brought reward when a ball fell to the feet of Knaresborough’s captain and number ten, thankfully Patterson has enough pace sweeping across the back to counter any lapse from the two defenders and she was able to take it off the strikers foot before a shot came in.

As half time approached Albion looked odds on to score a second when Liz Boyle made a run across the line before shooting into the net but it was pulled back for offside.

Despite having five subs on the bench including 34 goal Helen Fraser the team stayed the same as it was only a matter of time before the current eleven added to the score and only two minutes into the second half and it was a repeat of the first goal when a measured pass from Patterson found Rich who this time rounded the keeper before slotting home from close range for 2-0.

With the temperature at pitch side more like a hot summers day it was time to introduce fresh legs onto the pitch by Albion and Helen Fraser and debutante Rachel Barber came on for Claire Townend and Maria Finelli. Barber was straight into the action and she maintained the dominance in midfield that her team mates had given in the first half and an early through ball for winger Jenkins should have produced a goal but Jenkins fired into the side netting. Five minutes later and Jenkins was beating the full back again only to frustratingly fire wide from ten yards.

As the match was edging towards three points for Albion, the Ossett defence went to sleep for a five minute spell and thankfully this season we have a more than capable keeper to help out when needed, after being a vitual spectator she rushed off her line to make a great save from Knaresborough’s number eleven.

The third goal for Ossett came from Thomasson after good work from captain Liz Boyle, her hard work and running throughout the game made tired the Knaresborough defence and she found Thomasson out wide with a defence splitting pass which Thomasson converted with a strike that went in off the post after the unlucky keeper had gotten a palm to it.

Albion were good value for the 3-0 win and on another day they would have scored a lot more, but credit does go to Knaresborough for their sterling effort and they never gave up throughout the game.

The Machenair player of the match was undoubtedly Rachel Powch for her tireless performance in midfield but the Crown sponsored Referees vote went to Tanya Rich for her two goals.

Ossett now face league rivals Tadcaster Albion in the Yorkshire Cup this Sunday (20^th) in what is the draw of the round at this stage of the season. Kick off 2-00pm at Dimple Wells.

Email us :- clare@ossett-ladies-fc.fsnet.co.uk