Town stun champions

Pocklington Town recorded their best result of the season with a first ever win at defending champions Reckitts – putting an end to the the current league leaders five-match unbeaten run.

Manager Rich Bower made a tactical change after last week’s draw at Malet Lambert, switching to a 4-5-1 formation and recalling Nathan Hind and Chris Scott to the starting line up, as Marshal Tyres sponsored Pocklington made a bright start, matching Reckitts in the challenge as both sides battled to seize the initiative.

With Pock pressing, Reckitts gave away a foul on the halfway line with a trip on Nathan Hind and when James Haigh swung in the free kick, confusion between a defender and keeper set up Stu Lawson for a free header from four yards and a 1-0 lead.

Reckitts nearly levelled when a free kick was only parried by Ben Rawlings and an almighty scramble from the loose ball and subsequent corner saw desperate Town defending clear off the line twice.

Pock weathered a spell of pressure as the home side looked to get back on level terms but with Hind a constant threat down the right wing, Pock always looked dangerous on the break.

Town nearly doubled their lead on 22 minutes when from a series of corners, a Lawson header back across goal only just failed to pick out Tom Rogers on the line.

With Reckitts trying to build from the back, Chris Scott stole the ball off a defender and saw a 25-yard snap shot fly over while Reckitts countered with a move down their right that needed an excellent reaction save from Rawlings to prevent them levelling.

A long Rawlings goal kick saw Scott use his physical presence to get round his defender, only for him to shoot instead of setting up Rogers who had made a run into the area.

Another Reckitts free kick bounced to safety off the far post for a big let off for Town but as the half came to a close, Pock doubled their lead when a pin-point pass from Haigh picked out Hinds’ intelligent run. His mazy run beat the left back before a last ditch attempt to make a tackle only succeeded in tripping up Hind in the area. With the referee showing leniency to the defender by not even showing him a card, Mark Watkinson coolly slotted home the spot kick past the keeper’s dive and into the bottom right corner as Pock took a two goal lead into the interval.

Town made a confident start to the second half and had a great chance to increase their lead on 53 minutes when Abblet’s intelligent pass sent Hind clear of the defenders and through on goal and although Town’s young attacker did everything right, the keeper guessed correctly and was able to make a vital save.

Haigh was forced off with a calf injury with Rob Gibson coming on to add his experience to the Town midfield and with Town matching their opponents in every aspect of the game, Reckitts brought on all three substitutes in an attempt to change the game.

Pock came under sustained pressure and held their own as Reckitts upped the physical contest. This led to an appalling tackle on Scott on 68 minutes that saw the Reckitts player quite rightly dismissed.

But despite being a man down, the home side enjoyed the lions’ share of possession and pulled a goal back on 69 minutes when good footwork from Nicholson created the angle for him to get off a shot that dipped in off the underside of the bar.

A foul on Scott set up a Craig Hargreaves free kick that needed a good save by the Reckitts keeper but with Pock forced on the defensive, a solid defensive team effort denied Reckitts’ serious threats.

With Rawlings showing safe handling and good distribution, Town looked dangerous on the break and when the Reckitts keeper miskicked a backpass, only a timely interception on the line denied Hughes a goal.

Despite all of Reckitts’ pressure, Pock closed the game out with the kind of excellent team effort that has got them as many points after this win as they managed in the whole of last season.

Town are at home next week to sixth placed Chalk Lane this week and will be looking to avenge a 4-1 defeat away in September before taking on Sculcoates Amateurs, again at home on Wednesday, November 17.

Players meet at the club at 1pm please.