19th November 2016 - Maine Road FC 2 v 1 Barnoldswick Town - A last minute change of plan saw me arrive at Brantingham Road, have a quick fungal mooch at a nearby churchyard and get a well needed cup of cha and a Twix to while away the time before kick-off. I expected Maine Road to win this one and there to be quite a few goals on show but who knows what these Non-Leagues games can throw in the way of surprises. Anyway, the game went ahead and what transpired went something like this.
Kick off, the ball got rolling with both teams immediately settled into their roles. It was a tidy start with the first chance falling to Road's No 8 who, after a liquid move from a quick throw in, shot low and hard across goal and saw the ball fly just wide. Besides this near miss both teams were giving little away and were as tight as Charlton Heston's chuff on a frosty night. My early thoughts regarding a goal fest were evaporating fast and I pondered the prospect of a real close tug-of-war that would see little give either way. Maine Road were playing the flanks, Barnoldswick were going for a more central option - the question was were would the first crack appear and who would take advantage. The grind out continued, Barnoldswick looked concrete at the rear but the home chaps created another half chance that finished in yet another shot dragged just wide. They seemed to be getting their eye in and when they pushed forth again one expected a goal to come. It did but unfortunately for the boys in blue it came Barnoldswicks way after a pacey breakaway down one wing saw a sharp pass played and a tight shot squeezed home on the near post by their No 9 Mark Threlfall - a real well taken slot in it was too. Maine Road looked to respond from the kick off and by heck they did just that with a slick multi-pass triangle created and leading to a chance for their No 8 (Matthew Morgan) who fired sweetly home - boom, bang, have that - 1 -1.
Barnoldswick now needed to re-organise, did just that and had a long shot sent forth that just whizzed wide and showed that the game was still there for grabbing by the goolies. The home team now started to find their passing tootsies and moved up a slight notch by stringing together some quite choice moves. An example of this one touch manoeuvring was what led to a free kick being won which in turn saw some quick mesmeric play make room for a shot to come and the lead goal to be snatched. Stand up Richard Williams and take a bow! Barnoldswick could have felt hard done by but they beavered onwards and held things steady despite Maine Road really playing some fancy stuff but just over-elaborating things and thus cocking up the potential. 2 chances came for the visitors, one blocked at close range by the net man and the other whooshing wide with warning aplenty. To and fro and back and forth with opportunities in abundance for another goal but with the home team on the front foot and coming mighty close to grabbing a third the whistle came and a chance to re-warm the carcass arose. I took it with both perished hands.
Tea, chinwags, back to the action.
Here the change came and here we witnessed the home squad go into the changing rooms as one beast and come out another. The team who were looking to force their hand and assert their ascendancy now fell prey to Barnoldswick's grit and determination and, in truth, spent the greater part of the next 45 minutes hanging on to a precarious lead. The away sides No 9 fed off his teammates hunger and tested the netter's mitts early on and followed up with another shot that just missed the target. Mayhem ensued in Road's half, the No 8 for Barnoldswick was a menace and got a shot in too, forcing the No 1 to reach high and just tip over. The maelstrom was whipped up, Maine Road were in the trenches and fought like desperate dogs and when a goalkeeping shout led to confusion the equaliser looked to be all but on the cards. Not so, Barnoldswick squandered opportunities, time ticked by and pressure built at both extremes. Now at the back end a few glimpses of a sucker punch fell at the feet of the blue boys but the guests ground things out, would not give in and contributed to a good old game of exerting football. The one way traffic was continuous though and applause, for both teams defensive and attacking attributes as well as their dogged determination, must be given. We were suddenly in the last few minutes, now both units became ragged - a goal via a mistake would be cruel either way - it never transpired and when the referee blew it seemed just as well, although a score draw would have been a very fair result. Man of the Match could have been given to one of many but I shall opt for Maine Road's No 3 (Joshua Tinker), the coolest head on the pitch, a good organiser with an in-built discipline and always alert to chances be it from a position at the back, in the middle or front of the park or from a throw in!
FINAL THOUGHT - As stated in the title of this blog this was tale of two manifestations, a match of many faces and one that indicated how things can quickly change if the powers of focus aren't properly harnessed. It did make for a fascinating encounter and left me pondering where on earth these two teams may end up. They both have good spirit so should be fine and dandy but, consistency is the key and that should be their main aim throughout each and every match. As per, my visit to Brantingham Road was a pleasure and I will be back several more times this season that is for sure!
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