Ambers hit Cobras for six

Gaz Griffiths and Kieran Wells both grabbed doubles as Clipstone were depatched 6-0 by The Ambers ....

Another midweek night, another game as The Ambers looked to capitalise on Tadcaster’s slip up at Maltby, but the potential banana skin awaiting them came in the shape of a Clipstone side containing a number of ex Ambers and Parras, augmented by a sudden influx of recently departed players, plucked back from their Evo-Stik ‘parent’ clubs for the night.
With the injured Archie Sneath absent, capable deputy Dave Ratcliffe made a rare appearance between the sticks as The Ambers made their customary strong start to the game. Ash Burbeary and Simon Harrison both had good efforts off target before Gareth Griffiths rose highest to head home the opener after just 8 minutes.
This early strike drew the visitors out and, with the pace of Denton and Walker up front, they were certainly dangerous. Denton in particular was clearly enjoying his outing back in the NCEL and he tested the Ambers defence on more than one occasion as the game became a rather tense affair. Ratcliffe was called into action to tip over an effort from Wall, and from the resulting corner, he parried an effort from Ashmore which was followed up by Salt to score, but the Assistant Referee raised his flag for offside.
On The Cobra’s next foray upfield, Ratcliffe raced off his line to clear and his kick released Jon Froggatt and Kieran Wells who between them unsettled Hernandez in the away goal, leaving Wells to blast home the second and the visitors to harangue the officials. With their tails now up, The Ambers went for the jugular and, after Wells’ attempted pass inside the box was returned to him by a defender, he picked his spot to grab his second goal in four minutes.
Any thoughts that Clipstone had of rescuing a point with a second half comeback were dealt a crippling blow on 48 minutes when Griffiths arrived at the back post to volley home, the centre backs 9th strike of the season! Froggatt was getting closer with each attempt as The Ambers continued to pile forward but they had to be on their guard and survived a thumping header from Salt which went just over Ratcliffe’s bar. The impressive Steve Warne then rolled back the years and went on a mazy run which almost opened up the Cobra’s defence again, but he just over ran the ball.
Mick Godber decided to rest a few of his overworked squad towards the end of the game which brought Alex Rippon, Luke Fletcher and Colin Marrison into the fray and it was soon 5-0 when Burbeary and Harrison combined on the right to fashion a chance for Froggatt which was snapped up in the usual fashion.
With three minutes left, Warne was the subject of a poor tackle which earned left back Trench a straight red card, and the punishment was doubled when Burbeary’s free kick found Marrison at the far post, and his cushioned header gave Rippon the opportunity to head home the final goal of the evening.
The result means that The Ambers are back at the top of the table, and whilst the advantage is still with Tadcaster because of their game in hand, rest assured they will be pushed all the way to the finishing line.