Spoils are shared in chilly, physical and tight league contest
WHICKHAM and West Allotment shared the spoils in a keenly-contested affair at a chilly Glebe Sports Ground.
The early stages were more about the physical side of the game with players from both sides biting into challenges in a bid to take control of the momentum.
Chances had been at a premium until the first genuine moment of quality brought the opening goal of the contest midway through the first half.
Just moments after Allotment’s Callum Larmouth saw a head cleared from the goal line, the impressive Nathan Greenwood raced on to a quickly-taken freekick down the right-hand side and managed to swing a sumptuous cross into the visitors area.
That left Zak Atkinson with a relatively simple task of heading into the net from around six yards out and he made no mistake to put his side ahead.
Allotment’s reaction was spirited as they looked to build their attacks around the trickery of Mikel Thompson and the power and intelligent hold-up play of experienced striker Guy Bates.
It was Thompson that played a significant role in creating a chance that could and perhaps should have levelled up the game just four minutes before half-time.
The attacking midfielder beat two weak challenges before setting up Matty Hayton, but his shot was comfortably saved at the near post by Whickham keeper James Anderson.
That save was almost rewarded in fine style seconds before halftime as the hosts’ Jamie Dunn struck a post before Allotment somehow managed to clear the loose ball to safety to ensure the one-goal deficit remained in place as they made their way off the pitch at the interval.
Jay Bates’ men were back on level terms 10 minutes into the second half, although their hosts will be less than satisfied with the poor standard of defending that led to Mikel Thompson’s goal.
A run that looked to carry little threat when he received the ball just inside the hosts half increased in danger but the Whickham
WHICKHAM
WEST ALLOTMENT CELTIC
2 2 defence took little notice as Thompson made his way towards their area without a meaningful challenge.
He punished Tony Fawcett’s men by getting shot away at goal that wrong-footed Anderson and sneaked inside his near post.
Whickham really should have regained their lead midway through the half when goalscorer Atkinson somehow failed to double his tally when he sent a header over the bar from point-blank range.
There was just over quarter of an hour remaining when Allotment went ahead for the first time as Bates punished more poor defending from the Lang Jacks.
A poor defensive pass was seized upon by the forward and he found time and space to turn in the area before crashing a shot across Anderson and inside his far post.
Whickham striker Atkinson was once again wasteful as he fired wide after breaking in on goal with ten minutes remaining, but it would be a temporary reprieve for the visitors.
With just six minutes remaining, Allotment keeper Fin Hodgson produced a stunning save to tip a powerful effort from Declan Bissett on to the crossbar and behind for a corner kick.
The ball was swung in from the left and wreaked havoc inside the visitors area.
An attempt to clear the ball to safety struck Allotment defender Jack Errington before rebounding into his own to ensure the spoils were shared.
The result was ultimately a fair one with little to separate the two sides in terms of quality and endeavour, but both managers will feel their players could and should have done more to secure a bigger reward from a tight contest.
WHICKHAM: Anderson, Howard (Robson), Dunn, Burrell, Galbraith, Agnew, Bissett, Peareth (Elliot), Atkinson, Greenwood, Young Subs: Below, Priest, Dixon
WEST ALLOTMENT CELTIC: Hodgson, Baltazar, Parkinson, Bates, Higgins, Leech (Pearson), Larmouth, Forster (Somerville), Hayton, Thompson (Beeston), Errington Subs: All used