Game Changer 2-4 Pogmoor All-Stars

Game Changer suffered a 4-2 defeat for the second successive fixture, having lost to Barnsley Charity last weekend, and another Barnsley-based side, Pogmoor Allstars – this time played on an Academy pitch at Oakwell Stadium.

Results haven’t been kind for the Changer team recently, but, despite negative results, their last three consecutive results have seen them come close to achieving their first victory. They have shown great diversity after months of defeats and are slowly turning things around – only missed opportunities in front goals have seen the Oranges slide to narrow defeats.

The story was no different on Sunday. The Changer team benefitted from goals in each half from Jesse Payne, and Rowan Briscoe, who was making a rare appearance, however, they came close to adding further tallies to the score-line. Briscoe, who scored in his previous appearance at Blackburn in January, saw his long-range effort tipped onto the crossbar, whilst Payne twice saw efforts narrowly miss the target.

The hosts also benefitted from a large squad. Whilst this is somewhat of a luxury it can be considered a squad selection headache for manager, Gavin Frost, who had to choose his best squad from his pool of players. However, they were without Jack Brown (broken hand), and Connor Jones. Meanwhile, full-back, Levi Wilkinson, returned to the squad.

Game Changer 2-4 Pogmoor All-Stars Sunday, 4th June 2023 – KO: 14:00 PM Friendly Match

​Game Changer XI	​Substitutes

In the basking sun, it was the visitors who went ahead after winning a corner from the right, the delivery was finished from close range. The Oranges had started brightly and after Payne drew a foul on the edge of the area, Brandon Jones's set piece failed to beat the opposition keeper.

Eager to get back into the game, the hosts prevailed in the final third and almost drew level from Ben Peel’s intervention. Proving the catalyst, his timed cross into the box drifted onto the far post where winger Cameron Harrison timed his run and his angled drive at goal cannoned off the post and span out for a goal-kick.

The visitors doubled their lead shortly midway through the first half when a stray shot from the edge of the area caught out keeper, Ryan Hunter, before nestling into the bottom corner of the net.

It came as a huge disappointment considering the hard work and team effort the team had put in thus far. Yet again, they picked themselves up and after a brief water break, the hosts continued. Payne came close to scoring when he chased a long pass from Dean Crawford and after beating their backline, on a tight angle, he forced a save out of the keeper at his near post. The Oranges pulled a goal back from the resulting corner after Pogmoor failed to clear their lines, in an edge-of-the-box scramble, the ball ran loose and Payne intercepted before firing home, again on the angle.

The hosts upped their tempo but failed to find the back of the net before the referee blew for half-time. However, they came mightily close to levelling the score following Briscoe’s long-range drive which was prevented from hitting the target by an acrobatic keeper, who tipped the ball onto the crossbar!

Half-Time: Game Changer 1-2 Pogmoor All-Stars

After making changes at the break the hosts continued to search for a leveller but, again, it was the visitors who struck first within the opening exchanges of the second half. The Oranges failed to clear their lines from a Pogmoor attack and as the ball was crossed into the box, the ball deflected and looped onto the far post which their tall striker got the better of his marker as he headed home.

Moments later, the visitors almost extended their lead via another low shot from distance, but, this time, the ball bounced off the foot of the left-hand post.

The hosts never gave up despite trailing. Peter Harrison flashed an effort from range over the top following a cleared corner. However, at the other end, Allstars were denied a fourth goal when a scrambled corner resulted in substitute, Paul Holland, heading clear an effort off the line and preventing a certain goal.

Payne fired an effort wide of goal from outside the area before a cross into the box moments later resulting in Payne’s diving header narrowly flew over the bar before the referee paused for another water break.

The final fifteen minutes saw the opposition extend their lead to three goals before the hosts found the back of the net to reduce the deficit. After defending a Changer free kick in the final third, Pogmoor worked the ball down the right flank, and after switching the ball onto the left side, a cross into the ball wasn’t cleared and, in a melee, the ball was tucked home from close range.

Game Changer pulled a goal back shortly before full-time after Briscoe was played in and after dancing around several defenders, he marched across the 18-yard line before rifling an unstoppable shot past the keeper.

In the closing minutes, Harrison’s laid-off free-kick, 20 yards from goal, saw Wilkinson flash an effort wide. The sound of the referees' whistle came at a disappointed conclusion. The hosts believed that they had further goals in them. Still, despite suffering numerous of losses the team’s spirits remain high in the belief that a victory is around the corner. If ever a Latin transcript was to be written onto the club's badge, it would go something like; ‘Nunc vadam iterum,’ which simply translates to; ‘We go again.’