Ammas blow....

Two goals in each half condemned The Miners to a heavy defeat at the hands of our Division 1 neighbours to exit the League Cup.

Midfielder Matt Robertshaw (who's featured for our Development side in recent weeks) was made right-back for the night, allowing Jack McMurrough to move to midfield in place of the unavailable Dan Coupland. There was also a start for Sean Hunter who replaced the injured Mitch Hamilton.

Rob Hunter's side struggled throughout to handle the pace, movement and pressing of the hosts and went behind as early as five minutes. Ex-Town striker Fernando Moke delivered across to an unmarked Harrison Blakey who drilled low into the net. On eight minutes the lead was doubled when Blakey's 25 yard effort evaded newly signed keeper Liam Corbett at the near post.

Town went in search of a route back into the game and had their chances, but the quality in front of goal seen in recent games was missing and Ammers goalkeeper Graham McLachlan was rarely tested. Mark Simpson chipped onto the roof of the net from a narrow angle after a defensive error, then a better chance for the striker followed on 20 mins when let in by Sean Hunter's deflected pass, but he could only shoot wide of the far post. Only seconds later, Robertshaw prevented a third when clearing off the line from Aaron Kitao who'd rounded a stranded Corbett. A good delivery by Luke Kitson sadly wasn't rewarded on 27 mins when Simpson fired straight at McLachlan. The hosts were soon back down the other end of the field though with Moke curling a shot round the post two minutes after. There was controversy half an hour in when, another ex-Miner, Luke Sharry looked to have fouled Simpson in the box, but the referee waved play on. Two chances for Ammers' Adam Shaw almost gave us a mountain to climb at half time; a turn and shot from just outside the box was deflected wide, before he saw a 20-yard effort clip the top of the crossbar.

It was soon three after the break however when a rare mistake from Luke Mccrum on 50 mins saw Kitao rob the ball off him and round Corbett to tap into an empty net. Moments later Calum Ward did well down the byeline to try and find Simpson in the six-yard box, but his cross was agonisingly short allowing a defender to clear. By his high standards, it was a night to forget for 24-goal Simpson, who's last chance came two mins later when put clear but fired well over the bar.

A dangerous move by the home side ended in Shaw lashing against the side netting on 67 mins, but it was 4-0 ten minutes later. Blakey completed his hattrick when his header from Lewis Pickering's cross found its way into the net via Corbett's hand and the inside of the post.

Shaw curled a free-kick just over the bar from a dangerous position on 79 mins, before Lee Turner supplied one of our few shots on target with a long range effort held by McLachlan. An Ammers fifth almost arrived in injury time when Shaw raced clear of the defence to play in substitute Jayden Huglin inside the box who'll have been disappointed to shoot off target.

A deserved win for the East Leeds side which brings the curtain down on Town's cup exploits for another season. A positive is today's return of manager Rob Hunter from his four-month stadium ban, and with no fixture this weekend, he has a full week with his side to prepare for the small matter of a visit to free-scoring Pontefract Collieries next Tuesday (kick-off 7:45pm).