By Sam Gillinder
Horsforth St Margaret’s 3-3 Bardsey
King George’s Field hosted a football match between Bardsey and Horsforth St Margaret’s. This fixture last year saw Horsforth come up the victor with a huge 7-2 win.
Horsforth also played this one on the back of thrashing Pool 9-0 on their patch earlier in the week.
Last time around Bardsey couldn’t live with the attacking intent from the home team, especially in the second half.
This time round Horsforth had to come back from behind to finish the game with a point.
Horsforth fielded a strong eleven, Thomas Whitaker starting as an attacking midfielder and Jake Kilbride playing down the right.
In the first half neither side could find a goal. Had there been someone in a Horsforth shirt in the box on the end of a Kilbride ball 20 minutes into the match a decent opportunity would have been created.
Two minutes later a nice move from right midfield left Charlie Webb with a chance but his shot hit the post.
Bardsey had a free kick from 40 yards out but a rather ambitious attempt went over the bar.
Bardsey tested Antonio Demurtas in goal but he kept the score at nil nil.
In the second half a lack of intensity in defence let Bardsey take the lead. They were allowed acres of space for a first goal and disappointing defensive positioning from a corner resulted in a headed goal for a second.
Bardsey scored again when Horsforth were far too easy to pass through and they couldn’t avoid going 3-0 down.
Horsforth then fashioned a goal back after a move down the right ended in a ball into the box, it was begging for someone to get on the end of it and Whitaker stepped up to knock it in.
Horsforth were playing better and starting to create chances. Jose Borja tried from 40 yards, but his shot hit the crossbar and was inches from bouncing down over the goal line.
Jake Kilbride then got Horsforth a second. Exquisite control of the ball in the penalty area allowed him to produce a shot into the top right corner of the goal.
Whitaker then found the equaliser, a neat left footed shot drew the scores level.
Near the end of the match a decent save from goalkeeper Demurtas enabled the score to finish at 3-3.
Horsforth will take positives from the resilience they showed in coming back from 3-0 down to eventually get a point with a draw but they will have to start winning matches if they are to be in with a chance of promotion to the Premier Division.
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