Champions toppled by "worst team in the League"

Boroughbridge AFC 1, Bardsey 0

West Yorkshire Premier League – 01.03.08

A quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln amongst others suggests that "it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt". If there is a Lincoln Award for inopportune statements, the runner-up this weekend would have to be Bardsey boss Steve Larner, who must have known his words would come back to haunt him. "We believe we can win every game" he told the press of his team's remaining 15 fixtures. In his defence, he also told them "saying that we'll probably go and get beat this week at Boroughbridge". He also was complimentary about our playing ability and the playing surface at Aldborough Road. So the undoubted winner of the Lincoln Award is Bardsey striker Rob Dickinson, who attempted to fire up his team at half time by telling them Boroughbridge were "the worst team in the League". With 17 minutes of play remaining he was heading for an early shower following a second cautionable offence with his team trailing to (again) "the worst team in the League". But what of the Champions, who easily saw off 'Bridge on the last day of last season to wrap up the title? They are a strong, physical side who play good football, but they never looked comfortable today. The home side stood up to their physical (but mostly fair) approach, found room to operate and in the end fully deserved the win.

As at Ripon last week, the teams had to contend with strong winds, but Daz Ekin will be a much happier man with the way his team coped with the conditions this week. Kicking into the wind, a target for most teams would have been to retain parity until half time, then to use the conditions to their advantage in the second. That sounds easy on paper, but against the reigning Champions it could have been hard to execute. That it was carried out perfectly owes much to a combined team effort, with tireless performances from all players and a man of the match performance from Alistair Hogg in the nets. No doubt mindful of the wind advantage, Bardsey's Andy Livingston seemed to favour the first time strike, no matter what other options were available, and he was the first player to go for goal, shooting from 30 yards after 5 minutes, the ball collected with relative ease by Hogg. Six minutes later Hogg found himself in action again, but this time there was nothing easy about his work, bringing off a superb triple save from Dickinson, Craig Bird and then Dickinson again, all at close range and in a single play. Against this early run of play, Ben Darville found himself clear on the edge of the area and put a well placed lob over Ian Philiskirk to apparently give 'Bridge a 13th minute lead, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Two minutes on Darville turned provider placing a well judged cross onto the head of Baz O'Neill in the six yard box, but under pressure from Philiskirk, O'Neill headed over. In between Livingston had tried his luck again from the edge of the D with the same (later predictable) result.

With the first half settling down, Dickinson obviously felt the need to wrest the Lincoln Award from his manager, getting his campaign underway by earning himself a caution for not retreating the required distance at a free kick. Andy Layton soon followed him into the book for dissent, whilst both benches raged at referee Ashworth who was having, it has to be said, a worse than poor day. Darville on the right and Charles Walbrook on the left, both had good runs to goal halted by well timed tackles, and Mick Mills headed over for Bardsey whilst handily placed. On 35 minutes Livingston was feeling left out and tried another distance shot, his effort this time from 20 yards but with Hogg collecting easily. As in the early stages, Hogg followed this easy save with a piece of fine skill, a fingertip save over the bar keeping his net intact before pushing the inswinging corner over immediately after. Bardsey were pushing hard as their advantage was coming to an end, but 'Bridge were looking comfortable and confident to see out the half. With just 5 minutes to go though, Dan Thirkell was the right man in the right place, on the line to clear a hook shot by Dickinson, whilst Darville came to the rescue as Hogg was pressurised by two Bardsey players into spilling the ball. Mike Toney came close for Bardsey, volleying a McMullen cross just over the bar, and at the other end Marcus Philpott continued his return by meeting an O'Neill cross but volleying wide. The partnership of Philpott and Walbrook, fed by Darville and O'Neill looked intuitive, and promised good things for the second half, whilst Thirkell looked comfortable in midfield alongside Chris Stephenson. The back four had held firm in front of Hogg, and Ekin would be the happier of the managers at half time. For Bardsey, Bill Hedley was perhaps lucky to only receive a lecture after challenging Walbrook and using his elbows (see picture below), something which he was to do several times as the match wore on. Oh,and lest I forget, Livingston had another couple of long range shots to see out the half with the usual results.

Click on the picture to enlarge

Half Time – Boroughbridge AFC 0, Bardsey 0

The second half question was whether 'Bridge could use the tail wind in the second half to their advantage, and after only 5 minutes it looked that way as Philpott was able to latch onto a long ball but could only place his lob onto the roof of the net. Following a good run by Darville on the right, he was also on hand to lay a good ball across the face of the goal but there was no man in blue to take advantage. This could have been costly in the 59th minute when a speculative cross by Toney deceived Hogg in the air and struck the post, rapidly followed by a shot from the same player under pressure from Layton which gave Hogg no trouble and a Mike Longfellow effort which sailed over the bar from the edge of the area. But Philpott was not to be denied, and following a superb right wing surge by Ben Clayton, he was on hand to coolly slot past Philiskirk to give 'Bridge a deserved lead in the 65th minute.

As the clock ran down with 'Bridge now looking good for a win, Dickinson played his ace to secure his Lincoln Award, a late challenge on Stephenson deemed cautionable by referee Ashworth. In a match where the referee seemed to struggle with decisions, it seemed fitting that Dickinson made up his mind for him by not waiting for the card but turning and walking away immediately, leaving Ashworth chasing him to show him first yellow then red. This gave "the worst team in the League" the comfort zone they needed and it seemed to pay an instant bonus as a lovely cross from Walbrook was met by Philpott who stooped low to head past Philiskirk, but once again, a flag was raised and the effort ruled out. O'Neill and Philpott had one further attempt each before the whistle was blown after an inexplicable five minutes of stoppage time to allow the home team to celebrate at a job well done.

A woeful refereeing display, a fine team performance from 'Bridge and an inspired afternoon for Hogg gave 'Bridge a boost after last week's dismal showing. For the most part Bardsey were combative but fair. Hedley however should consider himself extremely lucky to remain on the pitch after having been spoken to twice without caution by the referee following challenges with his elbows. Now trailing Carlton by 18 points albeit with five games in hand, the visitors probably now do need to win every game to have any hope of retaining their title. Their home tie with Carlton next week may well prove to be the title decider.

Full Time – Boroughbridge AFC 1, Bardsey 0

Man of Match – Alastair Hogg

Boroughbridge AFC – A Hogg, B Clayton, A Layton, C Stephenson, D Thirkell, M Tyson, B Darville, L Whittaker, M Philpott, C Walbrook, B O'Neill. Subs – D Webster, A Croft
Goal Scorers – Philpott 65; Yellow Cards - Layton

Bardsey – I Philiskirk, B Hedley, M Toney, M Mills, M Newstead, M Longfellow, G Miller, A Livingston, R Dickinson, C Bird, P McMullen. Subs - J Gilmour, P Street, S Cliff, M Bradley, S Larner.
Yellow Cards - Dickinson x 2; Longfellow; Red Cards - Dickinson