Penistone Church 2-2 Worsbrough Bridge
Owen Wildblood’s ‘worldie’ free kick with the last kick of the game rescued a draw for Worsbrough Bridge and denied their local rivals Penistone Church their first win of pre-season.
Jordan Coduri’s double had overturned an early deficit as a Tom Brennan own goal had given Worsbrough Bridge a surprise lead.
Penistone had chances to kill off Toolstation NCEL Division One Worsbrough but they wasted them – leaving the door open for defender Wildblood to gatecrash the proceedings and steal the headlines from Coduri.
Worsbrough will hope the night is a start of a positive new era under Luke Forgione.
Worsbrough are brand new. The heroes and stalwarts of old have drifted away in the past year.
Gone are the familiar sights of the muscular frame of Jack Mawson ramming defenders, young Calan Rollinson galloping (or hopping) here, there and everywhere like a Duracell Bunny and Scott Batty controlling the midfield. Other long-serving stars have departed.
Now Luke Francis leads the front-line, Dempsey Smith terrorises the full-backs and captain Conor Glavin wins the ball in the middle of the park.
Smith was the orchestrator of the opener. His pace was a nuisance to Church in the first half and his break down the right – a move started by quick-thinking from goalkeeper Ross Pritchard – ended up with Brennan turning the cross into his own net.
Penistone responded straightaway with a low drive from Coduri.
But despite playing against a leading Premier Division outfit, Worsbrough were organised and disciplined and this performance bodes well for the new campaign.
Young defender Callum Walmsley was excellent and marshalled powerful striker Kieran Ryan really well.
Bridge handled the spurts of first half pressure Penistone enjoyed. Luke Stewart wasted one good chance and had another shot blocked. Bridge even had odd breaks of their own with Francis’ low effort which required a save from Chris Snaith being one notable moment.
The game only really opened up after an hour after both sides had a made a multitude of changes.
The home side enjoyed a good spell of control and duly took command of the friendly.
Ryan’s right-wing cross was met by Coduri on the edge of the penalty area and the playmaker fired into the far bottom corner to put Church ahead for the first time.
Although Mike Japps did go close for Worsbrough, Church were well on top.
Prospective new signing Leon Hurles-Brook, the ex-Campion and Silsden man, chipped the ball over the crossbar from close range after dancing past several Bridge defenders.
Pritchard then denied Coduri his hat-trick with a smart save.
The third goal never came, but a Worsbrough equaliser seemed unlikely.
That was until a dangerous free kick 25-yards from goal was awarded. Wildblood stepped up and struck gold at the bitter death.
Forgione needs that never-say-die attitude from Worsbrough when the new season begins.
Who Was In Charge
Gareth Thomas
How Many Were There
153
Man of the Match
Callum Walmsley (Worsbrough Bridge)
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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.
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