Ossett Town chief John Reed praised his new team after their crucial 1-0 win over Bamber Bridge
New signing Chris Ovington’s second half wonder goal ensured Ossett Town’s Evo Stik Division One North play-offs dreams are still alive after John Reed’s first home game in charge at Ingfield, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Ossett beat play-offs rivals Bamber Bridge 1-0 in a match devoid of many chances. But the win was all that mattered for Ossett and result extended their unbeaten run to eight league games and keeps them eight points from the top five.
The home side defended heroically towards the finish as Bamber, who ended the game with ten men after Matt Lawlor’s red card, pushed for an equaliser.
Ossett held on to earn Reed his first victory as the new Town boss – four days after they drew 2-2 at Ramsbottom United – and he was delighted with his players’ efforts.
“It was a great finish from Chris Ovington and it is always nice when you bring a new player in and he produces what we know he can do,” Reed told Sports Performer.
“It was an absolutely amazing strike and in the main it was really tight game. It was either going to take a mistake or something special and thank god it was the second one.
“I’m really pleased with the work ethic and that’s two matches where they all put a proper shift in. You can’t ask anymore.
“I was delighted with the spine of the team. The two centre-halves, Connor and Wood, were absolutely first class. Jack Wakefield and Richard Patterson were excellent in midfield.
“I thought Matt Sykes had a great debut at right-back so overall I can’t knock them. It was a tough game and there were never going to be masses of chances as it proved.
“It was just that one bit of individual brilliance that thankfully Chris did for us.”
Chris Ovington celebrates his sensational winning goal for Ossett Town
The first half was a non-event with neither side properly threatening their respective goalkeepers. Bridge were perhaps the better team, but all Neil Crowe’s men showed was good approach play.
Going into the second half, Ossett were the team who knew they would have go for broke if they wanted to stay in the race for the play-offs and it took only five minutes to break the deadlock.
Quick and lively Ovington, sent off during his Ossett debut at Ramsbottom, cut in on the inside of right-back Matt Mahoney 30 yards from goal. The former FC United of Manchester player then looked up before unleashing a sensational pile-driver and sending the ball down the middle of goalkeeper Lee Dovey’s goal.
Dovey surprisingly failed to move and the ball hit the inside of the bar and landed in the net. One can only assume that Dovey was expecting the ball to fly over the crossbar. Suddenly the game was alive and it was Bamber who were the team with a problem.
Chris Marlow was introduced by Bridge in a bid to mount a comeback, but Ossett goalkeeper Josh Samberg – a Altrincham reserve stopper helping out due to Sam Dobbs’ unavailability – was relatively untroubled.
Jack Wakefield is hacked down by Matt Lawlor and…
… and is sent off by referee Adam Burgess for the challenge
The visitors’ task was then made even harder with 17 minutes remaining as Lawlor was deservedly red carded. As Jack Wakefield attempted to move the ball up-field, the midfielder was recklessly hacked down from behind by Lawlor.
After a brief kerfuffle, referee Adam Burgess, the official at the centre of Paul Lines’ six match stadium ban in October, produced the red card – much to Lawlor’s disgust.
Bridge’s number four made his feelings known to Burgess before being hauled away by his team-mates and given the directions to the changing rooms.
Despite being a man down, Bridge remained a threat and Ossett narrowly survived a couple of goal-mouth scrambles. Defensively though Ossett were magnificent. Shaun Connor and Nick Wood headed and kicked everything away from danger and protected rookie stopper Samberg.
Four minutes of stoppage time were added on before Ossett were able to celebrate a crucial win.
The play-offs dream remains a possibility and Reed’s good start will be put to the test again on Tuesday night when Salford City visit Ingfield.
Ossett Town: Samberg, Sykes (C Wood 75), Jeff (captain), Wakefield, Connor, N Wood, Tiani, Patterson, Branagan, Williams, Ovington. Subs unused: White, Dews, Pashley.
Bamber Bridge: Dovey, Mahoney, Bowyer, Lawlor, Banaminio, Kay (captain), Waddecar, Thompson, Johnstone (Marlow 60), Taylor, Clark (Alexander 75). Subs unused: Watt, Buchan, Reid.
Referee: Adam Burgess (Sheffield)
Ref rating: 6/10
Attendance: 149
Man of the match: Nick Wood (Ossett Town)
Match Photos are HERE