Joker FC 3-0 Penistone Church Reserves

County Senior League First Division; Saturday 22^nd February 2014

Joker FC continued their quest for the County Senior League First Division title with a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow promotion rivals Penistone Church Reserves.

The hosts, unbeaten since November, took the lead on 32 minutes. A deep free-kick was met a header from Dean Conway, who glanced into the bottom left corner.

The same players then combined for Joker and Conway’s second of the match, midway through the second half. A neat through ball from midfield was tapped into the goal by the leaders’ man of the match frontman.

With sixteen minutes to go the scoring was completed from another set-piece. A corner was met by Gareth Clayton who headed in via the crossbar for 3-0.

The scoreline, which was already harsh on Penistone, could have worsened when referee Mr Rossiter awarded the hosts a penalty, however Church’s Arran Pratt denied a weak penalty to the bottom left corner.

Joker FC are now on 40 points as a result of the victory, with second-placed Jubilee Sports five points worse off.

The home side attacked from the off. Almost immediately Jason Maxfield chipped Pratt, however Joe Baldwin cleared off the line.

At the opposite end of the field, James Tomlinson’s long range shot fell wide of the left post for Penistone’s first shot of the game.

In the 13^th minute, Gareth Clayton played a short ball to Conway, who turned and rounded the defender before his low shot towards the right of the goal was tipped round the post by the goalkeeper.

The next chance was created through a neat one-two. Maxfield to Conway and returned again, however the resulting effort was tame and straight at the goalkeeper.

The majority of the match was an end-to-end contest, as you may expect from the high league positions of the pair. For Penistone, Edward Newsome fired over the bar, before Adam Dewsnap fired wide with a half-volley following Newsome’s lob. 

On 29 minutes, Clayton’s cross found Maxfield unmarked for Joker, however the ball was blasted over the bar.

Still the hosts were rewarded for their pressure, Conway’s movement within the area evaded his marker, and the flick was accurately stroked into the corner of the goal.

 The visitor’s almost levelled within 20 seconds of the restart. Sam Cunningham found the ball at his feet in the box, but the attacker couldn’t find the target.

Clayton had a similar chance at the opposite end but blasted over from close range.

Penistone’s Jake Schofield’s free kicks showed potential many times during the game. In the 40^th minute he sent a set piece just wide of the right-hand post. 

The wind had dropped greatly for the second period, which Penistone began motivated to try and find an equaliser. James Tomlinson’s long range shot only inches over the crossbar.

For the league leaders, Maxfield played in Conway one-on-one, but his rushed shot went over. Minutes later, Maxfield headed wide from a corner.

Still Penistone persevered. Oliver Robinson found Josh Hoyland unmarked from a free-kick, but the header went over. Jake Schofield too attempted to score from distance, but his shot was kept out by Richard Bugdol in the Joker goal.

But the visitors were left to rue their misses. A through ball was poked into the goal by Conway from a one-on-one position, as the visitors switched off defensively; 2-0.

For the last twenty minutes Penistone failed to register another shot on goal. There final attempt was a long range effort from Tomlinson which was caught by Bugdol with ease.

The scoring was completed sixteen minutes from time, with a corner headed in by Clayton. This was before Conway was starved of a hat-trick by being substituted. 

The lead could have been extended but a penalty towards the bottom left corner was denied by Pratt after an infringement in the area. 

Still Joker had chances for further goals; Maxfield’s chip from a one-on-one was parried by Pratt who despite the score did not show a lapse in concentration.

Defeat for Penistone Church Reserves sees them slip to three points behind Wickerley, though they can only be promoted if the senior team do the same from the Premier Division. 

Joker FC Team: Richard Bugdol, William McClare, Danny Swales, John Hammond, Gareth Clayton, Paul Zacesm, Jonathan Morris, Season McClare, Jason Maxfield, Craig Roberts, Dean Conway. Substitutes: Phil Couthard, Paul Roberts, Oliver Dove, Phil Badger.

Penistone Church Reserves Team: Arran Pratt, Josh Hoyland, Jake Schofield, Joe Baldwin, Dexter Hobson, Edward Newsome, James Tomlinson, Adam Dewsnap, Oliver Robinson, Tim Council, Sam Cunningham.