Senior Saturday report - 01/04/2023

POCKLINGTON TOWN 4 – 1 EAST RIDING RANGERS CHURCHILL TYRES sponsored Pocklington Towns Humber team took on East Riding Rangers at home in the league last Saturday looking to build on a 4-2 away win against the same opponents the week before. In what was a slow start to the game for both sides on a bobbly pitch, it was Pock who took the lead after 25 mins from a close range Joey McCormick goal following a good early left wing cross from Craig Hargreaves. Rangers were back on level terms not long after though after Town failed to clear a corner but undeterred by this, Pock stuck to their game plan and retook the lead just before half time after Frazer Hansen was brought down following an excellent through ball by McCormick. It was Hansen himself that picked himself up to confidently score from the spot to give Town a narrow advantage at the break and in a second half that was similar to the first, Pock started off slowly but built up a head of steam and made it 3-1 after 80 mins when substitute Szymon Czubik bagged from close range. With the result not in doubt, Town capped off another good performance with a good finish from Jason Barnes to make it 4-1 and make it 10 games unbeaten in the league. With 4 league games left for Town, it remains incredibly tight at the top of the division with a few points separating the top three and Town go into a pivotal week with home games to come on Wednesday 5th and Saturday 8th that will play a big part in the outcome of the title race. First up midweek is a game against always tricky LIV Supplies, where a feisty game is always on the cards, before taking on fellow title chasers Sculcoates Amateurs at the balk on Saturday. It’s a 7:30pm ko midweek and 2pm Saturday, hope to see you down to cheer Town on. MALT SHOVEL Reserves 2 – 2 POCKLINGTON TOWN 3rds With the York league Division 1 2nd team without a fixture, the focus moved onto the YARA sponsored Reserve A 3rd team and their attempts to pull clear of any danger at the bottom of the division with a tricky away game at Malt Shovel Reserves. After a difficult few weeks results wise and short of several regular players for this game, Pock started slowly and struggled to deal with passes into the channels and some good hold up play from the Home side. Malt Shovel definitely started the quickest and took the lead from the penalty spot but despite going a goal down, this proved to be the wake-up call Town needed in a game where there were plenty of chances at both ends. Despite the home side creating more opportunities, up stepped Jason Nattrass who calmly placed a great finish into the top corner from a fantastic shot from edge of the area to leave the game tied 1-1 at the break. Pock started the second half much better with more desire and tempo and just like the first half, there were plenty of chances at both ends with Pock now in the ascendancy. It was Shovel that regained the lead, against the run of play with a well-executed free kick from the edge of the box. Town fought back well again though and their equaliser came from Tom Knowles, who reacted first when the ball came loose after a goalmouth scramble to make it 2-2. There were more chances for both sides to gain the 3 points but ultimately a draw was a fair result over the course of the 90 minutes as Pock move into home action this Saturday with a 2pm ko against Thorpe United Reserves. This weeks Chrysalis Mens Mental Health sponsored MOM was Callum Dunham POCKLINGTON TOWN 4ths 0 – 5 NORTHSIDE SPORTING FC Only able to field a bare 11 players due to 2 late injury call offs and other unavailability, the LANE RENTAL SERVICES sponsored Pocklington Town 4th team put out 8 lads 18 or under against an experienced visiting team that had defeated Town 7-1 in the first game of the season. Despite the handicaps that Pock were playing under, their attitude and commitment to their team was impressive and for 25 minutes, there was nothing to separate the sides as Pock worked hard to soak up the pressure and try to cause problems on the break. Eventually the experience told as northside got on top and by half time, Town found themselves 2-0 but certainly not out of things. This led to the lads having a real go at getting back into the game but conceding a needless free kick and then allowing a free header on the hour saw them go 3-0 down. Despite going down to 10 men due to an injury, Pock stuck to their task and refused to buckle under some real Northside pressure that saw the visiting No. 11 dismissed for a punch on Town left back Lewis Gossip. Despite finishing the game with 9 men due to another injury and conceding two more late goals, Pock should take a lot of heart and confidence from a battling performance where despite being up against it for most of the match, they refused to give in. Pock have their last league game of the season in a months’ time. This weeks Chrysalis Mens Mental Health sponsored MOM was keeper Josh Watkinson for making some top quality to keep his side in the game.