Pocklington Top HPL After Victory Over St Andrews

Pocklington made the short trip to Bishop Burton to take on St Andrews in the Humber Premier League looking to get back to winning ways and although deprived of five of their squad, edged a nervy performance to win their fourth game out of five.

 

Dan Boneham almost made it the perfect start only to be denied by the St. Andrews keeper right on the edge of the area but with Pock struggling to get out of second gear, they were second best to the ball.

A foul on the lively Nathan Hind set up a James Haigh free kick that flashed back and forth across the home goal. Great running by Boneham saw his cross bounce off the hand of the St. Andrews defender and although the assistant flagged for a penalty, the ref waved play on for a controversial decision.

A scramble at the Pock end saw a St. Andrews penalty claim again go begging but when Town attempted to play the ball out of defence, Rob Kunkel’s pass was miscontrolled by Tom Rogers and the home side took the lead in the 30th minute. Pock replied with Olly Newby playing Boneham clear only for the shot to be hit at the keeper, although his next effort rebounded to safety off the bar as Town pressed.

Boneham picked up a yellow after a poor tackle but with him and Newby causing problems for the home defence with their pacy attacks, Pock were finishing the first half strongly. Bonehams pace set him up for another effort that was blocked, despite Hind waiting for a squared pass in front of an open goal and a Tom Rogers 25 yard-free kick thundered to safety off the bar as Town did everything but score to go into the break 1-0 down.

Pock started the second half where they had left off and Mark Watkinsons pass put Newby through for another Boneham hot that went narrowly wide. Kunkel had to be smartly off his line on 54 minutes when a superb cross field diagonal put a home forward through, denied space though the effort bounced off the post for a big let off as the game became stretched.

Boneham chased a through ball on 65 minutes and was upended by the St. Andrews keeper on the edge of the area, with Rogers calmly doing the job from 12 yards and leveling the game as Pock finally scored but this led to a 10-minute spell of St. Andrews pressure that Town had to weather with some gritty defending from Stu Lawson, Rob Gibson, Watkinson and Hargreaves. Kunkel showed good handling from the shots and crosses and with the introduction of Dave O’Connor, Pock finished the game strongly.

Watkinson showed good feet to break down the right and his pass sent Boneham through the inside right channel. This time Pocks number 9 made no mistake and curled his finish into the top left corner for a goal to top off his MOM performance. Nind almost curled in a right foot effort on 92 minutes but Pock were able to defend in numbers and restrict the home side to half chances as they closed out a narrow win.

Reported by Richard Bower | Photos by Paul Linton

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