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27th
August
2004
Gornal Athletic 2 Pelsall Villa 2 (match report by Steve) By recording draws in the first two matches (both at home) Gornal Athletic have made a decent start to the new season following their promotion to the West Midlands Premier League. However, on Saturday (21st August) they faced a daunting trip to Pelsall Villa. Villa were relegated last season from the Midlands Alliance but had eased to victory 4-0 and 5-1 in their first two matches at this level, In the first half, the Peacocks kicked uphill on Pelsall's notorious sloping pitch. With a back-to-the-wall 45 minutes expected, it was encouraging to see the young visitors take the game to their hosts in the early exchanges. On fifteen, striker Calum Martin and midfielder Edwards bamboozled the home defence with a succession of one-twos that saw the Pelsall keeper scrambling to get the ball away for a corner. A few minutes later the same pair again produced a slick interchange of passes only to be denied once more by the keeper. Gornal were beginning to get well on top and a thunderous effort from Bowes was somehow tipped over by the Villa keeper. The hard working visitors were allowing their opponents no time on the ball but whenever the home team did manage to get near Gornal's area they found 18 year old centre half Pardoe in commanding form. Edwards, who was causing Pelsall all sorts of problems with his surging runs from deep, had a great chance after bursting into the box but shot straight at the onrushing keeper. On the half-hour, Gornal suffered a setback when Pardoe limped out of the game. With his usual defensive partner Pountney also missing there were a few anxious mutterings among the travelling fans. Shortly afterwards those misgivings were confirmed when, in their first attack of any purpose, a Pelsall striker was presented with a free header which he duly guided into the back of the net. Further problems followed for Gornal as first Martin and then soon after the goalkeeper had to be replaced leaving the visitors to start the second half trailing 1-0 and having used up all their three allowed substitutions. In the hot afternoon sunshine Gornal picked up where they left off and soon had Pelsall on the back foot but as the game wore on the heat began to take its toll on some of the players and their attacks began to lack the incisiveness of the first half. Midway through the second half captain Dave Bate provided the inspiration needed as he raced from the half way line onto a through ball, with the home defence appealing desperately for offside he calmly chipped the keeper from a distance of thirty yards. From then on the game became very exciting as both teams went flat out for the winner. As play swung from end to end it was another defensive error, twenty minutes from time, which allowed the same Pelsall striker to rise completely unmarked at the back post to head his side in front. The Gornal lads did not drop their heads and five minutes later, Bowes whipped his 25 yard free kick past the Pelsall goalkeeper to make it 2-2. For a while Gornal pressed hard for the winner but they were becoming increasingly tired. With no injuries Pelsall had managed to introduce their subs at various stages of the second half and were finishing the game much the stronger. With a full ten minutes remaining the visitors were having to urge each other on to bravely scrap for every ball. Then, the entire Gornal team had to defend desperately to keep their opponents at bay in a frantic last five minutes. However, this young side proved they have character as well as talent as they saw the task through to the final whistle. At the end it was unexpected point for the Peacocks but for long spells they outplayed their high flying opponents and overall created far more chances, so had every right to feel more than a little aggrieved at not notching up their first win of the new campaign. In all, it was great entertainment, and left everyone looking forward to next Saturday 28th AUgust when Gornal take on local rivals Coseley at Garden Walk. www.gafc.org.uk sport@yampy.co.uk. --> |
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