Impending rain, a stiff westerly, and the puggy Skogland Park a far cry from perfect conditions set the scene for a Horizons Premiership clash against North End AFC. Player rotation and squad selections looming, PlaceMakers PNBHS 1st XI sought to get quality game time into the legs of their squad. North End triumphed, winning 3-2.
PNBHS began from the outset holding possession for long periods. The first four minutes of the game was a succession of successful passing play and recycled ball by PNBHS, before a snappy shot on goal by Ben Mori was saved by the North End keeper. Reclaiming the ball from the keeper’s kick, Thomas Bell made a lengthy run down the wing, finding a line-up of PNBHS players waiting for the tap in. It was to be Mohammed Tamim’s first goal for the PlaceMakers PNBHS 1st XI; striking the ball into the underside of the crossbar – the ball crossing the chalk. North End fired up in reply and a would-be-cross from thirty metres out carried with the wind and lodged itself in the top corner of the PNBHS goal. With the game tied, the next ten minutes were defensively testing for the PNBHS 1st XI, North End holding possession and pressing forward consistently. A North End goal was imminent and at the twenty-minute mark, North End had the lead. PNBHS had their chances while in possession but remained tested in defence for long periods. Brooklyn Browne made a top-draw save to keep PNBHS in contention before the end of the first half.
PNBHS came into the second half firing, Thomas Bell and Ben Mori both having chances on goal early, but coming up unsuccessful. Brooklyn Browne also remained in the action, making reactive saves in quick succession. With substitutions made to add some sting to the PNBHS attack, Adarsh Dutt and Jaiden Meyer paired well together, but a crossing opportunity for the far-post run came and went without troubling the scorecard. North End were relentless in looking to close out the game and with a turn and bounce through the PNBHS defensive line, their striker tapped in. Too little, too late, PNBHS struck back in the 86th minute with Jaiden Meyer closing the gap. However, the experienced North End team wound down the clock smartly.
While it was not the result expected, PNBHS will look back at the opportunities missed high, wide, or down the throat of the keeper.
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