Injury time heartbreak for Ambers

A late late goal gave Yorkshire Amateur a 3-2 victory over The Ambers ....

It was a new opponent for The Ambers in the shape of the newly promoted and extremely ambitious Yorkshire Amateurs, as the home side looked to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Hemsworth. With Ollie Yates absent, there was a swift return to the Ambers eleven for last season’s surprise package Brad Nicholson. Also returning to Ambers first team action for the first time in four seasons was Lee Hill who started in a three man midfield supporting a three pronged attack of Jon Froggatt, Jordan Turner and Ollie Fearon.
It was Hill who had the first shot on target but his scuffed effort from the edge of the box was easily claimed by McLachlan, before Shaw went close for the visitors with an overhead kick that missed the target. The Ammers were moving the ball well through midfield and they took the lead after just 7 minutes when Blakey found space on the edge of the Ambers box and fired home after chesting the ball down.
Handsworth responded well, and a Fearon lob brought McLachlan into the action again before the busy Turner raced onto a diagonal ball from Nicholson and was pulled back by the retreating Fishley, who repeated the trick two minutes later after an Ozzy Radford defensive header had sent Turner away again, but both free kicks came to nothing.
The Ambers were really building the pressure now and their aerial prowess was creating plenty of opportunities. Hill just failed to reach a Nicholson cross before a header from Lee Cooksey was grabbed just under his bar by the keeper. Hill then went agonisingly close after Fearon flicked on, the ball rolling inches wide of the back stick.
Finally, some good luck went the way of The Ambers when a clearance ricocheted into the path of Turner who scampered through and was brought to ground by Serrant who earned himself a yellow card. Referee Mr Beard pointed straight to the penalty spot despite the visitors accurate protestations that the offence took place just outside the area, and Froggatt calmly slotted the ball home for the equaliser.
The Ambers continued to force the pace, but as half time neared, they were caught on the break, not for the first time, as Moke raced through, rode a challenge and stroked the ball past the exposed Phil Barnes to regain the lead for the visitors. It was a disappointing end to a very positive half for The Ambers.
The second half followed suit as Handsworth continued to press forward and the visitors defended well, whilst looking dangerous and easy on the eye when they had the chance to break. After 25 minutes of near domination by the home side, the leveller finally and deservedly arrived when Fearon rose well to meet a Jamie Green cross and placed his header into the corner.
With Cameron Rigby now also on the field as another attacking option and a switch in formation, The Ambers continued to swarm forward at every opportunity but they could not force another goal and the tempo of the game was dispersed nine minutes from time when Fearon clashed with Ammers sub Charlton, resulting in the pair both receiving red cards.
Moke almost snatched it for the visitors two minutes from time when his header skimmed the top of the bar before the prolific Flynn was brought on in the hope that there may be just one more chance. Gut wrenchingly for Handsworth, this proved to be the case when a long punt forward wasn’t dealt with and found it’s way to Flynn who raced into the box and supplied an unerring finish to break The Ambers hearts, deep into injury time.
So, despite an excellent performance, it is a second home defeat in four days for The Ambers who now need to dig deep to turn things round in the weeks ahead.