Kirkheaton had a point to prove in an exciting Under 15 Division III meeting with Greetland at Bankfield Rec – running out 4-1 winners.
The first meeting between the sides earlier in the season resulted in a 5-4 victory for Greetland but, Kirkheaton felt they had thrown away three points after holding a four goal lead early in the second half and they were determined not to make the same mistake again.
Good work from Thierry Bucknor, Nathan Bentley and Callum Swift kept the home side on the front foot in the opening encounters and Greetland’s resistance was broken in the 10th minute when James Kenyon gave Kirkheaton the advantage when he chipped the goalkeeper from 15 yards.
The goal fired Greetland into action with Callum Bruce and Lewis Storey forcing a series of corners but solid defending from Chris McNeill, Jacob Calvert and captain Freddie Priestley kept the Kirkheaton goal intact.
Greetland’s best opportunity arrived when Elliott Sayers was tripped and Callum Bruce’s free kick caused havoc in the six-yard box but keeper Sameer Ayaaz finally smothered the danger.
Having survived Greetland’s period of dominance, Bucknor forced a corner on the left from which James Kenyon’s cross found and unmarked Freddie Priestley at the far post who volleyed home from close range to give Kirkheaton a two goal half-time cushion.
Referee Nigel Hinson gave Greetland a route back into the game when he spotted an elbow in Ben Sumner’s ribs and promptly awarded a penalty which Callum Bruce placed perfectly into the top corner to give keeper Ayaaz no chance.
The goal caused some concern for the home side whose otherwise slick passing went to pieces as they visualised the possibility of a repeat of their previous game against the same opponents.
Tom Dighton and Daniel Haydock worked hard to keep the pressure on the home defence but some fine covering play by Jacob Calvert stopped the Greetland threat.
Kirkheaton finally began to recover their composure and Bradley Houghton, who had been a problem for the visiting defence throughout, found space on the left to fire in a perfect cross for James Kenyon to restore Kirkheaton’s two goal advantage with a header into the top corner.
Tom Thornton had given ample evidence of his goalkeeping prowess, but he was unable to prevent a fourth Kirkheaton goal when Greetland failed to clear a James Kenyon corner allowing Niall McKevitt room to fire home from 6 yards.
Kirkheaton’s position in the league defies their quality but, on this form and with three wins from their last three games, they will soon begin to climb the table.
