A midweek friendly against Mount FC was arranged as part of both sides 2023-24 league campaigns. The hosts, who play in black and blue stripes will participate in the Barnsley Sunday League, whilst Game Changer will compete in both the Sheffield & District Fair Play League, and Flourish League.
The Changer team, agonisingly, lost by five goals to three. The hosts had gone into the break 3-1 in front before extending their advantage to four goals early in the second half, before a rally from the opposition saw the Oranges reduce the deficit to 4-3, however, they struggled to find that elusive equaliser before the hosts netted in the final minute to put the game beyond the visitors.
Arguably, it wasn’t the best game to play. If mother nature was bi-polar then the day was very much an indifference in the weather. Throughout most of the day the Barnsley skies was basking in sunshine in a mini heatwave but come teatime, the skies were full of rain that was on the verge of a monsoon. The pitch itself wasn’t in great condition either. Being a council pitch, it had yet to be cut and there were no pitch markings – sympathetically, making conditions difficult for the referee who was forced to rely on judgement.
Mount FC 5-3 Game Changer FC Wednesday, 26th July 2023 @Carlton Park – KO: 18:30PM
Game Changer XI | Substitutes |
Liam Cole | Kevin Laws |
Matthew Townsend | Brandon Jones |
Joe Deakin | Liam Potter |
Paul Holland | Ryan Hunter |
Brett Hanson | Josh Payne |
Dean Crawford | |
Jamie Moore | Manager |
Sam Taylor | Jamie Moore |
Michael Gibson | |
Levi Wilkinson | |
Jesse Payne | |
Game Changer began the match firing uphill. The inclined was difficult to contend with and the visitors were reduced to too few opportunities. They slipped into a three-goal deficit – the first after taking advantage of a slippery surface. A ball forward slipped under the feet of defender Joe Deakin, with the striker taking full advantage in finishing past keeper, Liam Lowes.
The hosts added two further goals, but the visitors defended well to prevent an onslaught. At the other end of the pitch, they came close to scoring from Wilkinson’s cross come shot from the right flank, which few across goal, hit the bottom of the post and bounced straight into the keepers arms.
In a trademark finish, the Changer team did pull a goal back before the break. Player/Manager, Jamie Moore, proved to be the catalyst as his excellent ball through found Jesse Payne who fired the ball past the keeper at the first attempt.
The second half saw the visitors with the advantage of shooting downhill, though a comeback seemed unlikely when Mount extended their lead within the opening five minutes when a shot across goal was smothered by Lowes, but the ball fell lose and their striker was handed with the simplest of tap-ins at the far post.
Despite this setback the Oranges never gave up the ghost and was worthy of the two goals they netted in the second 45 minutes – though, perhaps, consider themselves unfortunate not to have earned more from the game.
The comeback began through a spectacular strike from Brandon Jones. 30-yards from goal, from the left-hand side, the midfielder curled a speculative effort which flew over the keeper and into the top right-hand corner.
The Changer side netted their third of the evening from Kevin Laws equally stunning strike. Charging at goal, 25-yards out, Laws smashed an unstoppable strike past the keeper to put the Oranges within touching distance of salvaging a point.
They came mightily close to pulling the game all-square through Levi Wilkinson’s driving free kick which forced the hosts stopper into a double save. After keeping out the initial set-piece, the keeper recovered quickly to keep out Jones follow-up on the angle at the expense of a corner.
However, all their handwork was unravelled in the final minute of the match after Lowes punched clear a corner. The ball was recycled, and, in a melee, the ball was stabbed home from close range – leaving the visitors little opportunity to make a final comeback!
Comments