’Mill fail to heed Matt’s warning
Reporter: Local football roundup 1 by JOHN GILDER
Date published: 22 January 2009
Photo: PICTURES by TIM FRANCE
HEADS I WIN: Uppermill’s Bobby Greenwood (right) gets in front of his Britannia marker.
Uppermill 2, Britannia Sports 4
MANAGER Matt Poulter said it was a game Uppermill could ill-afford to lose.
But after their Huddersfield and District League division one defeat at the hands of Britannia Sports, ’Mill are now in danger of being sucked into a scrap to avoid relegation.
Poulter, who took over the managerial reins earlier in the season, said: “There were too many gaffes at the back and we missed lots of chances.
“We didn’t do the simple things and it has cost us.
“I find being a manager frustrating on occasions. I am still registered as a player, but it is difficult to coach and play at the same time.
“Only one team goes down from our division but the last thing I want is for us to become embroiled in a dogfight.”
Yet Uppermill got off to a flying start when they took the lead after 16 minutes.
Kris Ventriss made the goal. He went on a determined run before crossing for Byron Coleman to score at the far post.
Ventriss spurned a good opportunity to double his side’s advantage moments later, but defensive errors allowed title-chasing Britannia back into the game.
The visitors to Greenfield Paper Mill were 2-1 up at the break, and they capitalised on another defensive error midway through the second half to make it 3-1.
But Poulter’s side would not throw in the towel and they were handed a lifeline with 15 minutes remaining.
Ventriss the provider turned goalscorer when he converted a cross from man-of-the-match Jake Jacobs.
Miss of the match, however, came when Britannia were reeling. Substitute Lee Rainford somehow spooned the ball over the crossbar from two yards following a corner kick.
Britannia made the most of their good fortune to settle the issue once and for all with a fourth goal in the dying minutes.
UPPERMILL: Rowbotham, Jackson, Fitzpatrick, Neild, Heaton, Greenwood, Rigby, Jacobs, Taylor, Ventriss, Coleman. Subs: Rainford, Bunn, Boote.
