Toolstation NCEL Division One - Game 31
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20/02/24 - Wombwell Town vs Horbury Town
Wombwell Town went into this game looking for payback following the defeat at visitors Horbury just a week ago, and in one of the toughest battles this season where they came out on top. Debut keeper Henry Kendrick, a recent signing from Wakefield, was the subject of the first of many appeals by the visitors when he slid down for the ball and kept in inside the penalty area. Shortly after, a breakaway by Horbury saw Abdul Asamoah draw Kendrick to him and a squared pass found Samuel Kyeremeh who looked certain to score until Danny Youel used his body to clear the ball off the line. The danger not yet over, the ball was immediately played into top scorer James Cusworth whose right footed curling effort struck the keeper's left upright and was then cleared. A few minutes later Gibril Bojang tried his luck from the right and Kendrick did well to get down and parry the ball away from goal to Gareth McDermott. In a quick move down the right his pass found Kane Reece who supplied a ball over the top for Jordan Kershaw who controlled the ball before finding Eddie Agnew who played in the onrushing Reece into the penalty area... ...with one touch the ball was played across goal but Reece was flattened by Horbury keeper Paul Hagreen and after the ball wasn't tucked home at the far post referee Dylan Hague awarded the penalty. After a delay for a booking to the keeper and some eager protestations by Horbury players, Kershaw stepped on to convert the spot kick in the 12th minute. Frustrations were clearly creeping into the visitors and a booking for centre back Jock Curran on 18 minutes saw captain Luke Playford incensed and he was shown to the, soon-to-be blue card, sin bin for ten minutes. The decisions weren't all against Horbury though as Wellers midfielder Jordan Good picked up a silly booking on 26 minutes for delaying the restart to the game after the visitors were awarded a free kick on the right wing by the corner flag. Horbury had one more chance to equalise in the first half as Joel Feirn picked up the ball after Kyeremeh tumbled to the ground just inside the penalty area, and the midfielder's shot was deflected behind for a corner. Half time: WTFC 1, HTFC 0 Horbury were once again on the front foot five minutes into the second half as Kendrick dropped a left wing cross and the follow-up shot was blocked by the body of McDermott this time with the referee yet again not interested in hearing any of the appeals. The rash kicking away of the ball in the first half cost Good on 51 minutes as a high foot to try and collect the ball saw the midfielder make contact with the Horbury player and earn him a second yellow card. Both sides were reduced to ten just ten minutes later as Playford carried the ball forward and side-stepped the challenge by the commanding Rikki Paylor before falling to the ground. If he had stayed on his feet maybe the effort finished by Ash Butterworth would have counted, but unfortunately the referee pulled the play back to book the captain for simulation and having already received a sin bin and a booking prior, Playford was sent from the field of play. The Wellers doubled their lead on 67 minutes as an Owen Sykes throw from the left was only half punched by keeper Hagreen at the far post and found substitute Callum Walton waiting. Walton's initial shot was parried back to the winger and a delicious scoop of ice cream (I mean the ball) found Cory Woodward lurking down low at the right hand post to head into the empty net. Kershaw almost made certain on the points just before he came off as he fired over the bar from Harley Wilson's through ball. There were nervy moments late on as Butterworth scored his first for Horbury two minutes into added time following a free kick on the left hand side, but after another five agonisingly slow (for the home fans at least) the final whistle blew. A lot of drama for two teams battling for a play-off spot, and too much for one member of the Horbury Town management as he was shown a red card after the final whistle for approaching the referee with too many words in frustration. Wombwell Town - 2 Jordan Kershaw 12 (pen) Cory Woodward 67 Horbury Town - 1 Ash Butterworth 90+2 Attendance: 182
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