What's The Point

Match report by David Robinson

The points were shared at the S W Jackson Utility Stadium which was probably about right in an encounter which only really caught fire after the interval. Liam Brownhill was making his debut for the Robins in place of Stephen Mason with Paul Marshall also absent but it was former Ashton striker Jacob Hazel who initially just failed to connect with a forward header before the ball reached Phillips.

Chris Baguley’s forward pass then found Martin Pilkington just being crowded out at the vital moment and Cavell Coo made a rare sortie into the opponent’s penalty area, just failing to get on the end of Brownhill’s long cross. Baguley then sent a free kick straight into Malkowski’s arms after Lindfield had been fouled and Baguley’s pass then picked out Pilkington who decided to try his luck from 20 yards out but was well wide and it was the centre forward who went closest again firing just off target after Gorton had challenged the keeper to a long free kick.

The second half opened with Tom Davie being booked for a high challenge on Brownhill but the full back then almost made the breakthrough for the hosts as he hit a speculative effort which dipped on to the crossbar with Phillips well beaten. Lindfield then fired in a 25 yard effort which Malkowski spilled low down, Wharton being penalised for a foul in the follow up and the substitute then forced the keeper to tip over his first time effort from Phillips’ long free kick. The Robins then came even closer as Gary Gee sent in a bouncing effort which Malkowski could only palm out to Eddie Toner who headed the ball back over the keeper only for Steven Jeff to clear off the goal line.

Matty Chadwick then entered the action and saw his pass to Lindfield result in Jay Gorton just missing his cross at the far post and Chadwick then forced Malkowski into a low save at his near post, but Frickley could have pinched all the points as a through ball found Grayson bursting into the area where Phillips made a good block and right on the final whistle Davie’s cross eventually fell to Jameel Ible who shot hit the left hand upright.

Team: Phillips, Coo, Brownhill, Gorton, Connor, Haining, Toner (Lees), Gee, Pilkington (Wharton), Baguley (Chadwick), Lindfield.. SNU: Morning, King