Pleasington Playing Fields was the venue for today's top of the table clash between Stanley Ultras and Oswaldtwistle Immanuel. Stanley Ultras had inflicted Immanuel's only defeat of the season in October's meeting between the two sides in what was a heated encounter and Immanuel were keen on revenge and the win that would put them within two wins of being crowned champions.
Buoyed by the late rally of the previous week against Prince of Wales, Immanuel started brightly. Moving the ball around on the good surface that they had been missing in recent games at Wilson's and showing a good intensity as Fergus Heyes and Jonny Hayhurst looked to gain control of the midfield in the early stages.
The first goal came after just 5 minutes and it was against the run of play. Stanley Ultras first meaningful venture into the final third led to a sliced shot from the edge of the box that was going comfortably wide before it took a cruel deflection off Stephen Mooring and flew past Matt Cook into the Immanuel net.
That didn't get Immanuel down though and they continued to put pressure on. The energetic Ryan Walton and Stephen Mooring, in particular, not allowing the Ultras backline to settle on the ball and Heyes continued to pull the strings from the centre of midfield.
Something that Immanuel hadn't banked on was the Ultras keeper. Often, a large frame and a lack of agility go hand in hand. Not today. In the first half he kept Ultras ahead almost single handedly. Saving from John Spencer, Simon Hodgkiss and Ryan Walton to name a few as well as showing strong hands to parry a stinging Mooring free kick. This keeper was proving himself to be massive, agile and an all round pain in the arse!
A lot of the first half was stop start due to some odd decision making from the referee and him also having to keep leaving the pitch to collect his equipment. When you have to remember to bring out your whistle, your flags and your book it is easy to forget. Particularly if, as suggested by an Immanuel player later in the game, you don't live an entirely healthy lifestyle.
Despite the keeper's heroics he almost let a scuffed effort from Jonny Hayhurst sneak in on the stroke of half time but just about managed to get a toe to it in time. Then, from the resulting corner, Ultras broke quickly and once Toby Hodgkiss failed to clear found themselves bearing down on Cook's goal and they made no mistake. 2-0.
It was a harsh result for Immanuel to have to take into half time but their performance was good and the mood was positive. Their cause wasn't helped 3 minutes into the second period though when Tom Leach found himself exposed at the back and, beaten for pace, had no choice but to take down the advancing Ultras attacker. The referee wasn't left with much choice but to give the penalty and send Leach off. Although, he dragged the moment out.
3-0 would have almost surely sealed it for Ultras but Matt Cook wasn't going to let that happen. Diving low to his left to push it away and keep the game alive. Ultras maybe would have been better trying to lob him!
Despite their one man deficit, it was Immanuel that were pushing to get the goals but were still finding the keeper unbeatable. And the frustration was getting the better of some. Toby Hodgkiss saw himself rightfully booked for his brother Simon's persistant fouling. I'm not sure when being related to a persistent cheat became a bookable offence but it's a bout time if you ask me.
Several shape changes occured as Parky was forced to shuffle his pack to deal with the sending off, injuries and chasing the game but Immanuel just couldn't find the elusive goal that would throw this game wide open.
That was until the 84th minute when Jonny Hayhurst's cross was met by an acrobatic attempt from Danny Riding and found the bottom corner. Surely Immanuel couldn't snatch a point could they?
Minutes later the ball dropped to Hayhurst at the edge of the box but he couldn't find the target. Immanuel were keeping the pressure on though, and in the final couple of the minutes controversy struck.
First Simon Hodgkiss cut back in the box only to be tripped. The Ultras players looked nervous. Surely everyone at Pleasington could see that and surely Immanuel were going to have the opportunity to equalise from the spot. As we've found out in previous games though, the obvious decision and Mr. Taylor's decision don't always match and he waved play on. The Ultras did play on and within seconds it was their forward that found himself upended in the box for a clear penalty. Clear to everyone except Mr. Taylor that is.
An entertaining game was being spoiled in it's late stages by the strange decision making from the man in black. And when he inexplicably gave a throw in against Immanuel after an Ultras clearance and then pulled play back for a foul throw by Jonny Hayhurst the frustration got too much and Immanuel's discipline went. Hayhurst inquiring whether the referee had taken heroin prior to the match. It is unclear whether Hayhurst was suggesting he had when he shouldn't or if he thought that he ought to have taken some. Whatever the meaning of his enquiry, Mr. Taylor was suspiciously quick to deny any involvement in said narcotics and showed Hayhurst the red card to leave Immanuel with 9-men.
It was an unfortunate end to a good game that was played in good spirits and although Immanuel lost they can take heart from their performance going into their final four games.
