NPL Division One East
Yorkshire Amateur 0-0 Pickering Town
A red card, a saved penalty, incredible saves, missed sitters, a brawl, goal-line clearances – this was a five-star goal-less draw and a terrific advert for the pulsating NPL Division One East.
Yorkshire Amateur or Pickering Town could have taken the three points and perhaps the visitors will feel the most hard done by having created the better chances.
The Ammers will have mixed feelings.
They played with ten men for the whole second half following Ross Duggan’s mindless sending-off, yet despite the numerical disadvantage, they were left to rue Ste Crawford’s penalty which was saved by Pickering goalkeeper Adam Kelsey.
The wait for the first win goes on for Pickering but if they keep playing in the same way, the points should come.
Steve Roberts has assembled a competitive and talented squad who were organised and constantly dangerous throughout at Bracken Edge.
Skipper Wayne Brooksby and Jackson Jowett were strong in midfield while new signing Sam Barker covered every blade of grass and was a real nuisance.
Some may think Pickering only came to life when Duggan departed but that’s not correct as the visitors were the dominant side before then.
Inside the early exchanges, Jowett’s free kick had been tipped around the post by Ammers goalkeeper Kyle Trenerry and Devonte Morton had been denied by Matt Dempsey’s goal-line clearance.
Duggan’s home debut ended ten minutes before half-time as he kicked out at Will Taylor after failing to chase down a lost cause.
The Ammers regrouped and Gibraltar International Adam Priestley was denied by an outstretched leg from Kelsey after breaking clear.
The game really sprang into life midway through the second half after a mini-brawl.
The game had stopped for a foul and Ammers captain Matt Dempsey, who perhaps may have got a bit giddy after watching old Youtube videos of himself playing at Matlock Town on Friday, charged 30 yards like a rutting stag to get involved.
He ran into Brooksby who ended up ‘comatose’ on the ground for the second time in several days.
Brooksby made a quick recovery but he and Dempsey received yellow cards.
Pickering then had two golden opportunities to break the deadlock.
Barker carved out his chance by himself with his trademark weaving before firing wide.
How Morton missed an open goal remains a mystery?
The striker had done everything right after going one-on-one with Trenerry but when all he had to do was roll the ball into the net, he blazed it wide.
Roberts must have had his head in his hands for the next few minutes as the Ammers then won a penalty as Dempsey was felled.
Kelsey saved Pickering’s bacon by diving to his right to save Crawford’s effort.
Dempsey was involved again minutes later as his goal-bound header was brilliantly saved by Kelsey.
The visitors laid siege to their hosts’ goal in the final few minutes.
Man of the match Trenerry made three saves at point-blank range while Dempsey made another goal-saving block.
When the final whistle went, you were able to finally catch your breath.
What They Said
Yorkshire Amateur joint manager Neil Sibson
“It had everything and we’ve just said to the lads that we could have lost 2-0, lost 3-0, won 2-0, it could have been a draw, it could have been anything.
“I think they had the better chances than us but I’m just proud of the lads about how they upped their game (after the red card).
“End of the day we’ll take a point all day long with ten men.
“Our goalkeeper (Kyle Trenerry) was absolutely outstanding, he made five crucial saves.
“(Kelsey) made a couple. He saved the penalty and he made another fine save from Dempsey’s header.
“But those two chances were our only clear-cut chances whereas they had five-or-six.”
Pickering Town manager Steve Roberts
“We’re desperate for that first win and that was a great chance but I’ve just said in (the dressing room) that we can’t be negative about it.
“Yeah we have a created a whole load of chances which we should finish but they have thrown bodies on the line and defended really well.
“We got away with the penalty but I can only be positive because I thought before they went down to ten men we were playing playing well and it was the best we had been playing.
“So it was pleasing in that respect.
“You’ve seen how competitive we can be as we had done well before they went down to ten men.
“I feel we should have gone and won it but you’re happy with a point after the penalty if that makes sense.”
The Teams
Yorkshire Amateur: Trenerry, Smith (Fishley 19), Jebson-King, Sharry, Dempsey (captain), Beaston, Stewart (Berchill 82), Dean, Duggan, Crawford, Priestley. Subs unused: Bower, Crouz, Serrant.
Pickering Town: Kelsey, Johnson, Joynes, W Taylor, Watson, Jowett, Keita, Barker, Morton (L Taylor 76), Brooksby (captain), Alngohuro (Deacey 60). Subs unused: Broadley, Harrison, Thornton.
Who Was In Charge
Dean Watson (7/10)
How Many Were There
135
Man of the Match
Kyle Trenerry (Yorkshire Amateur)
If you have enjoyed reading Non League Yorkshire over the past few months, please consider making a donation to the not-for-profit organisation NLY Community Sport which provides sport for children and adults with disabilities and learning difficulties. CLICK HERE to visit the JustGiving page. There is a video at the bottom of the page showing our work.
NLY Community Sport, run by James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has always had combatting social isolation at the top of our objectives when running our Disability Football teams.
Our work is playing an important role in reintroducing our players, who have disabilities and learning difficulties, back into society.
We have six teams, a mixture of Junior and Adult teams – Nostell MW DFC, Pontefract Pirates, Selby Disability Football Club and the South Yorkshire Superheroes (Barnsley) – across Yorkshire.
We have enjoyed great success over the past three years. Several of our players have represented Mencap GB in Geneva, including Billy Hobson from Selby and Greg Smith, whose story is quite inspiring.
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