Darol Lucas’ winning goal in Ossett Town’s 1-0 victory over Prescot Cables was his first for the club. Picture: Mark Gledhill
Ossett Town recorded back-to-back Evo Stik Division One North victories for the first time this season following the 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Prescot Cables.
Darol Lucas’s strike on the stroke of half-time earned his side a crucial victory which pushes Ossett further away from trouble.
Since they were massacred by local rivals Ossett Albion on Boxing Day, Town have hovered dangerously over the bottom two places – last night’s victory ironically moves them back above Albion.
Important wins over Padiham, New Mills, and most recently Brighouse have lifted the gloom at Ingfield and John Reed’s men now looked primed and ready to safely reach the finish line.
Their position is a stark contrast to the one the club was in exactly a year to the day when Craig Elliott had left a play-offs chasing team, leaving full-back Steve Jeff to take the reins for the 3-3 draw with New Mills.
Reed was appointed a few days later and he kept the momentum going as Ossett finished the season in eighth-place.
But, Ossett have found it tough this time around and both them and Prescot knew that this midweek fixture was a six-pointer.
The home side rode their luck at times, but they dug in during the second half to grind the result out.
Prescott took a blow in the opening few minutes as goalkeeper Tom Quinn was forced with a hip problem sustained in an aerial challenge.
The change brought a return to the area for former Yorkshire Amateur and Selby Town goalkeeper Ciaran Gibson, who was once called up for the Northern Ireland under 17s squad.
Prescot wasted two glorious chances. Mason Ryan found the side-netting with one opportunity and Jack Phillips missed an open goal.
The visitors were holding their own and they were very unfortunate when the deadlock was broken against the run of play.
Grant Allott deserves credit for keeping the ball alive from a corner in the build-up. The centre-back laid the ball back to Lucas and the former Albion put his foot through the ball and beat Gibson from a difficult angle – finding the top corner.
There was little in the game in the second half. Danny Cunningham and substitute Chris Ovington both had good chances to put the game beyond Prescot.
Defensively and in midfield, Ossett were excellent. They never shirked a tackle and coped really well as Prescot inevitably threw caution to the wind in the final act.
Seven ludicrous minutes of injury-time – despite no delays, no injuries, no time-wasting and only five substitutions – increased the tension around Ingfield.
Ossett managed to deal with every cross until the referee Justin Hayes finally blew up to allow the home side to celebrate another win that gets their season back on track.
Ossett Town manager John Reed:
“It is a massive win after battling our hearts out against a very good Brighouse side.
“Maybe we just deserved to win it, but tonight I won’t tell any lies because the best side for me was Prescot.
“For long periods in the first half they were on top, winning the second balls, running the channels and the number nine was killing us.
“But we scored a great goal through Darol Lucas, his first for the club. We dug in and there were a lot of choice words at half-time, but I thought we played a lot better in the second half.
“Prescot always looked dangerous on the break. It was more even, but we battled hard.
“People know we’re not a top ten or eleven team who have bags of money, we scratch around and I couldn’t have asked for more if I was paying them lads £400.
“I’m very proud and it is the first time this season that we have won two league games on the trot so I couldn’t be happier.”
Ossett Town: Dixon, Lucas, Jeff (captain), Wood, Allott, Akeroyd (Stockdill 62), Whiteley (Wood 66), Patterson, Curtis (Ovington 78), Cunningham, Merris. Subs unused: Hepworth, Cheeseman.
Prescot Cables: Quinn (Gibson 6), Harper, O’Reilly, Hollett, Dodd, Evans (Edgar 78), Greenhop, McCulloch, Gardner, Phillips, Ryan (Prince 58). Subs unused: Durnin, McLaughlin.
Referee: Justin Hayes
Ref Rating: 7/10
Attendance: 92
Man of the match: Darol Lucas (Ossett Town)