Andy Parky was in buoyant mood after Oswaldtwistle Immanuel’s great start to the season continued with a hard fought 4-1 victory over second placed Brown Cow Olympic.
The crowds turned out in their tens to witness this encounter, the first real test for the team in red and yellow. And it did turn out to be a test. Brown Cow Olympic were a strong, physical side who won most of the aerial battles but didn’t have anywhere near the skill and guile of this Immanuel side.
After an evenly fought first ten minutes it was Immanuel that broke the deadlock. James Leech running onto Spencer’s perfectly weighted ball over the top to round the keeper and do what he does, score goals. First blood to Ossy.
Brown Cow Olympic continued to dominate physically though and the game was far from won but an inswinging corner from Toby Hodgkiss found it’s way into the back of the net off two Brown Cow heads.
If the first goal hadn’t affected Brown Cow Olympic, the second certainly did. Oswaldtwistle Immanuel bean to get the ball down and play some of the good football we all know they can while the opposition began to fall out.
They were still a danger though, the Immanuel defensive pair of Tony Brereton and Tom Leach having to be at their best to block a few Brown Cow chances. It wasn’t always pretty but it was certainly effective as Immanuel battled to keep their two goal advantage going into half time.
Even when defending Oswaldtwistle Immanuel are dangerous however and that proved to be the case in the 39th minute when a quick break resulted in a Toby Hodgkiss cross not being dealt with and John Spencer turning and rifling the ball into the back of the net with the help of a small, or massive, deflection. 3-0.
And that was the score going into half time.
This was where we were going to see what Immanuel were made of. This second half was never going to be another of the goalfests that previous games had been. Brown Cow Olympic still had plenty to offer and their persistence paid off in the 54th minute when they pulled one back after some uncharacteristic confusion in the Immanuel defence following the giving of a debatable free kick.
Game on. And how would this effect Immanuel? This is when the big characters needed to show what they were made of. And they did. Immanuel shuffled their pack, bringing on new signing Karl Stanley for John Spencer to bolster a midfield that was in danger of losing the physical battle. It was a substitution that had the desired effect. The central midfield of Stanley, Si Hodgkiss and Berry started to win a lot of the ball and anything that did get past was ruthlessly dealt with by the imperious Tom Leach and the caring Tony Brereton. This with the terrier like displays down the flanks from Riding, Mooring, Toby Hodgkiss and Dillon and the constant energy of lone striker James Leech and Immanuel were proving that they were capable of battling performances when necessary.
And with 15 minutes to go James Leech nearly re-established Immanuel’s 3 goal cushion. Narrowly shooting wide when one on one with the keeper after being caught onside by the linesman for a change.
Leech was to have the last laugh however. With five to go, Mooring picked out Leech with his corner from the right and Leech rising to head into the top corner and do what he does. Score goals.
And that was how it stayed. 4-1 against the only other team with a 100% record and a great performance in which Immanuel showed what they are really capable of and confidence will be high going into next week’s clash at home to Stanley Ultras.
