Whitegate Over 30's V Oakmere Under 30's 

It is Boxing Day and that can only mean one thing! The annual Whitegate Over 30’s vs Oakmere Under 30’s Boxing Day game.

Whitegate Over 30’s, managed by former Whitegate United manager Mark Newall, organised his team well, bringing in experienced players, Whitegate legends such as Nigel Durose, whilst also including a number of current Whitegate United players. Martyn Boaler, the club captain, being the standout.

Oakmere Under 30’s, managed by Ben and Rick Duffy, had a mixture of Oakmere cricketers and Whitegate United Under 30’s with the likes of Matthew Holland and Henry Young being just two names who played from Oakmere’s Cricket club.

Families and friends braved the cold on Saturday morning and were out in force on the sideline to give Whitegate its biggest crowd of the season.

The opening minutes of the game were a cagey affair with both defences on top giving up no goal scoring opportunities. It took until the 20 minute mark for the first dangerous situation with Kev Beresford winning a free kick on the edge of the area and forcing a good save down low from Whitegate’s goalkeeper Tim Jones. But it was Whitegate who took the lead minutes later, with striker Ben Purdue latching onto a cross from Jonathon Bownes and he found the bottom corner to give the home side the lead.

Oakmere began to get on top in midfield and were able to create opportunities of their own with Lewis Newall and Henry Young going close. The game was levelled with 10 minutes remaining in the first half with Eithan Boulter-Ashcroft finding the bottom corner from distance.  Both sides had chances to go into the break leading with Rob Griffiths hitting the post for Whitegate and Jimmy Hodgkinson going close for Oakmere but with neither chance taken, the teams went into the break level at 1-1.

Whitegate dominated the opening period of the first half with Oakmere struggling to get out of their own half. Robbie Jones nearly gave Whitegate the lead but a brilliant save from Oakmere’s keeper James Norton denied the midfielder and kept the score level.

An important save it proved to be! Minutes later Oakmere broke away down the right hand side with Ollie Emmerson who fed Boulter-Ashcroft and he drew the foul from current Whitegate United manager Gary Yeo inside the box to give the away side a penalty and a chance to take the lead for the first time. Up stepped Oakmere’s player manager Ben Duffy who calmly found the back of the net 2-1!

In the closing stages, the game became end to end with both sides having chances. It was a critical tackle from Oakmere’s Joe Allen inside his own half on Yeo which stopped a very dangerous looking attack.

Whitegate grabbed an equaliser from a corner later on with Jones heading home from close range to level the game at 2-2 and that is how it finished...Penalties!!

Oakmere won the toss and decided to go first but a big save down to the left from Whitegate keeper Jones denied Lewis Williams. Martyn Boaler was up next and he made no mistake  to give the home side the advantage. Olli Emmerson found the top corner with his penalty before Jonathon Bownes saw his saved and the scores level in the shootout.

After scoring a penalty in normal time Ben Duffy found the back of the net again which was followed by Gary Yeo who made it look easy finding the corner. Kev Beresford scored but Robbie Jones saw his effort tipped onto the post, big save!! Up next Raj to score for the win. Saved!! Jones makes a big save down to his left to keep the shootout alive! It was down to Sam Eves to send it into sudden death  but he saw his effort fly over the bar to give Oakmere the win!

A great game of football between to good sides. A thoroughly enjoyable game for all involved! Credit to both teams!