Oswaldtwistle Immanuel kept their place at the top of the league as they battled to a 2-1 win over Brown Cow Olympic in an entertaining clash at Pleasington but Sunday 30th November 2014 will forever be remembered as the day that a Mooring brother played 90 minutes without picking up an injury.
Having already beaten Brown Cow Olympic earlier in the season, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel knew what to expect and Brown Cow Olympic did not disapoint. Their physical approach caused Immanuel problems and they had full control of all the aerial battles. The difference in size between the two sides was there for all to see. Brown Cow Olympic's entire team standing at 6 foot plus whereas the combined height of the Immanuel midfield comes to about 5 foot 8.
If anybody missed today's game you will be able to see many of the Immanuel players appearing in grottos up and down the country throughout the next month.
The first half belonged to Brown Cow Olympic as they won most of the physical battles. The Immanuel defence stood strong though and limited the chances. The partnership of Tom Leach and Tony Brereton once again putting in a big performance in a big game. At the other end however, Immanuel were struggling to get their foot on the ball. The usually effective John Spencer had seemingly used up all of his creativity in the artwork he'd drawn on Tom Dillon's car window.
The game remained scoreless until half time and despite Brown Cow Olympic having most of the possession, Immanuel were happy with their efforts. Matt Hodgkiss was particularly pleased with having got away with ABH on the Brown Cow keeper at the latter end of the half.
In the second half Immanuel came into their own. Gaps started to appear and they started to win some of the battles. Daniel Mooring in particular, making a real nuisance of himself. It's amazing what he can do when he plays for longer than half an hour.
60 minutes in and Daniel Mooring got the reward his efforts deserved as he was clumsily brought down as he tried to round a defender close to the byline. Penalty. Immanuel's first of the season and manager Andy Parky was secretly wishing James Leech was there to take it. Mooring stepped up though and made no mistake. Immanuel had taken the lead.
A minute later and the lead was doubled. Substitute Ryan Walton on his debut finding Spencer with a perfect cross and Spencer skilfully prodded the ball home with the end of his nose. 2-0 and it was Immanuel's to lose. They stood strong and started to win some of the physical battles that they had been second best in in the early stages. Another substitute, Fergus Heyes, had added much needed height to the midfield and was winning the aerial battles.
Immanuel had chances to kill the game off with Simon Hodgkiss and Tom Dillon both coming close late on befor eBrown Cow Olympic scrambled the ball home to make it a tense finale. But Immanuel were equal to anything Brown Cow Olympic threw at them and they held on to the win that their performance deserved.
So, at the halfway point of the season, Immanuel top the table and Parky could not be more impressed with how the season has gone so far. And if the level of performance and commitment stays as high as it is then they should be a force to be reckoned with in the second half of the season as well.
