Handsworth claimed their first win in three after back to back defeats against higher league opponents Matlock and Belper. And this was a comfortable win to say the least.

It took only 10 minutes for The Ambers to take a deserved lead, a cross from Tootle headed down by Ward perfectly, finding an unmarked Lee Whittington with all the time he needed to tap the ball into the net.

The game was dominated by the Ambers from the word ‘go’ as they controlled the possession and they created all the chances. And it took until the half-hour mark for Stocksbridge to register their first attempt which was scuffed well wide of the target. An easy afternoon for Luke Herriot in the Handsworth goal.

Handsworth doubled their lead just before the break thanks to the Stocksbridge keeper missing the ball when trying to clear, leaving Whittington with the simple task of rolling the ball into the net. His 7th goal in 5 pre-season matches. Half-time and comfortably 2-0 to the Ambers.

The second half continued in the same manner, Handsworth bossing the game. And they came close to putting the game to bed in the 52nd minute, when Whittington picked the ball up 40-yards out and attempted an audacious lob which left the keeper scrambling, only to see it fall inches past the post.

And the Ambers were out of sight on the 70th minute, a ball in from substitute Dacre, headed in by another substitute Eades. It was that far in the top corner the ball virtually kissed the up-right and the cross bar on its way in. A superb header.

And Stocksbridge’s miserable afternoon got worse after their central midfielder received a second yellow with 15 minutes to go for another foul on Nicky Travis.

There were few chances after the red card, and the game finished an emphatic 3-0 to the Ambers. A great, and well deserved, victory in which Handsworth dominated the game from the first whistle to the last. Good signs for the season opener as well, as Whittington has hit form, Griffiths looked unbeatable and Travis looked unplayable. Not to mention the 4 youngsters who came off the bench again to impress.

One to watch: Will Eades, the young versatile midfielder came on and was box to box working hard for the team, and even managed to grab himself a goal with an outstanding header. Comfortable in possession and loves a tackle, definitely one for the future.