Late goal keeps Ambers Cup hopes alive

A bumper crowd was expected at the King of Soho Stadium for the visit of National League North side FC United of Manchester in the biggest game in the short history of The Ambers, as the Emirates FA Cup reached the 2nd Qualifying Round stage, and our well supported visitors did not let us down as the coaches rolled in to Worksop and the ground filled up nicely ahead of kick off.
In a very even start to the game, it was the visitors who had the first sights of goal with Corbett heading over from a corner before the dangerous Lindfield drew the first save of the match from Chris Butt. The Ambers hit back with Danny Buttle to the fore, sending two dangerous looking crosses into the United box but the visitors cleared their lines. Joe Thornton was also looking sharp on the other flank as he outpaced Corbett to race onto a Stuart Ludlam pass, his cross finding Buttle at the back post, but the winger’s effort was smothered by Allinson.
It was a good little period for The Ambers as they stretched the visitors defence, but they had to be on their guard when Lindfield fired in another decent strike from distance. Butt launched himself across his line to save but the ball ran free and ended up in the net with the Assistant Referee immediately flagging for offside.
The atmosphere was building nicely and Ambers hopes were raised when Aaron Moxam raced clear of the United back line, but an unlucky stumble halted his progress and the action switched to the other penalty area where Micky Harcourt and then Ludlam produced a couple of great blocks to prevent the visitors forging ahead. However, the Ambers defences were finally breached when Irwin went down in the area after a Ludlam challenge, the same player stepping up to open the scoring from the spot.
With United in the ascendancy, it was important for The Ambers to reach half time without conceding a second goal, and with the thought that attack is the best form of defence, they took the game to the visitors. Thornton finished excellently after a great ball from Sam Finlaw split the away defence, but once again, an Assistant Referee was correct in his decision to raise the flag. United came back strongly as half time approached, Butt saving well from Gilchrist before Lindfield’s drive whistled inches past the far post.
The Ambers were almost caught out in the opening seconds of the second period when Gilchrist volleyed home from close range in the first attack of the half, but yet again, the flag correctly came to the aid of The Ambers. The visitors were looking really dangerous and for a while The Ambers were hanging on, but gradually they edged their way back into the contest. A spectacular cross cum shot volleyed in from Ludlam just evaded Thornton, before the full back sent Moxam racing beyond the last defender, Allinson saving the striker’s effort at full stretch.
Chances came and went at both ends in what, for a neutral, must have been an entertaining tussle. Gilchrist rattled The Ambers bar from close range with Butt beaten before Will Eades’ header from a corner was only just too high. Ludlam covered well to break up a United attack before Moxam’s flick from an Eades header was straight into the hands of Allinson at the other end.
A raft of substitutions for both sides and yellow cards for The Ambers followed which broke up the game, seemingly to the advantage of United, and as the clock ticked down, when Ozzy Radford just failed to make clean contact with a free kick from James Ashmore, it looked like The Ambers were exiting the Cup.
However, when all seemed lost, and following a bit of a fracas on the touchline which re-ignited the fire in the belly of The Ambers, a long punt forward from Eades caused panic in the heart of the United defence. Jon Hill managed to nudge the ball into the path of Moxam who, having got on the wrong side of his marker, set up skipper Pat Lindley to sidefoot the ball past Allinson and into the net. Cue wild scenes from The Ambers players, bench and supporters!
There was very nearly a sting in the tail as United stormed forward in search of a winner and when Butt could only parry Irwin’s shot, sub Greaves was on hand to smash the ball home. Unsurprisingly, up went the flag and United’s hopes were dashed once again. After four pulsating minutes of added time, Mr Mulhall finally called a halt to the proceedings and we’ll do it all again on Tuesday night at Broadhurst Park.

HE Barnes Man of The Match – Mickey Harcourt