Ambers exit Cup in seven goal thriller

Danny Buttle returned to The Ambers starting line up in the only change following the midweek loss at Bridlington as a large Handsworth contingent boosted the crowd at North West Counties League side Congleton Town in the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
In the early stages, both sides looked lively in attack and The Ambers were thankful for a good Archie Sneath save after a thumping drive from the Congleton left back after seven minutes, and just a minute later, Kieran Wells muscled his way through the home defence to smash home the opening goal.
In a very open game, the Ambers were dominating down both flanks with Buttle and Alex Rippon taking it in turns to terrorise the opposing full backs and create numerous chances which the home defence somehow managed to survive. However, it was certainly not all one way traffic as Congleton looked dangerous on the break, particularly the diminutive McGowan who was keeping Richard Adams and the excellent Gareth Griffiths on their toes.
The first disappointment of the day came when Danny Booth pulled a hamstring just before the half hour mark, but within a minute, his replacement Callum Harrison won the ball in midfield to help create the opening for Steve Warne to sidefoot his first goal for The Ambers.
Handsworth looked like they would soon be out of sight as they piled on the pressure but Farrimond in the home goal kept them at bay, and after Rippon was withdrawn due to a groin strain, Town gained a foothold in the game when Bailey finished off a slick move down the right on the stroke of half time.
The late goal gave renewed heart to the home side but it was the visitors who went closest to scoring as the second period began, when a rasping Wells drive thumped against the inside of the post and bounced to safety with the keeper well beaten.
On such small margins are things sometimes decided, and this proved to be the case, as within five minutes, McGowan raced clear of The Ambers back line and as he was about to pull the trigger, he was tackled by Griffiths in the box. The Assistant Referee who was up with play saw nothing wrong with the challenge but the man in the middle (literally) not only decided to award a penalty, he also saw fit to issue a red card to the centre back who had had an outstanding game.
The penalty was duly despatched by Matthews and the game was now all square, but not for long as the home side turned up the heat and McGowan chipped Sneath superbly, before netting his second from close range three minutes from time, as The Ambers pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
With the game going into injury time, the referee tried to redeem himself in the eyes of the visitors, when he awarded a penalty for a push on Wells, and Jon Froggatt slotted home to complete the scoring.
So, The Ambers exit the competition at the same stage as last season, and will undoubtedly look back on an opportunity lost.