Parkside penalty pain

EYES DOWN: Bridge’s Ben Horsefield (left) and Parkside’s Luke Hargreaves battle for possession.

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Parkside 2, Bridge 3

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: A PENALTY three minutes from time gave Bridge maximum points and incurred the wrath of Parkside in David Giblin division one of the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League.

When Neil Walsh appeared to be hauled down in the box, referee Dave Thomas pointed to the spot and Mike King stroked the ball home from 12 yards.

King’s spot-kick turned out to be the winner, but Parkside manager Martin Cooney disputed the decision afterwards.

Cooney said: “I felt it wasn’t a penalty — their man just stumbled in the box without anybody touching him.

“Some of the decisions made throughout the game were a bit controversial and that applies to both sides.

“It is a shame because I thought we were outstanding in the first half, although we ran out of steam a bit after the break.”

Parkside got off to the perfect start at Coalshaw Green Park — the pitch was in good condition despite the heavy overnight rain — when Daryl Donnelly ran on to a neat through ball before slipping the ball beyond the advancing Bridge goalkeeper after 17 minutes.

Parkside were much the stronger side in that first period as Bridge failed to get into their stride.

But a half-time rollicking from boss Chris Lawton certainly gave Bridge new momentum and they were level 10 minutes after the restart, Lee Cumpstey getting on the end of a free-kick to convert from close-range.

Donnelly restored Parkside’s lead midway through the second period with an almost carbon-copy goal to his first.

With the minutes ticking away, a point apiece seemed the likely outcome.

But then came the controversial penalty, with the last word going to Walsh.

He said: I felt a tug from behind from the player who was marking me and we both stumbled to the floor. I thought it was a penalty.”

Lawton said: “Parkside played some good football and I got the feeling they were out for revenge after we had beaten them earlier this season.

“The half-time grilling seemed to work and I am pleased with the win.”

PARKSIDE: Wilson, G Morris, Jennings, Dearnley, Lord, Higgins, Cooney, Hargreaves, Scoltock, M Morris, Donnelly. Subs: Dobson, Hall, Foley.

BRIDGE: Lomas, Horsfield, McMinn, Cumpstey, Bradley, Ryder, S King, Kessell, M King, Schofield, Fleming. Subs: A King, Walsh, Gray.

Referee: D Thomas.