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Wed 05 Oct 2022 · Premier Division
Albion Sports
Handsworth FC
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Smith makes his point as Ambers secure another point on the road
Ian Robinson7 Oct 2022 - 19:27
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A Sam Smith goal earned The Ambers a point in a forgettable 1-1 draw with Albion Sports ....
The Ambers were looking to avenge their recent home defeat as they travelled to face Albion Sports but were without top scorer Mitch Dunne, Jimmy Eyles coming in to replace him in one of two changes to the team that beat Hemsworth last time out.
However, it wasn’t to be, and the two sides battled their way to a 1-1 draw on a difficult night in a game which made the Hemsworth fixture look like an all action thriller. There was no lack of effort from both sides, but on the whole, it was a feisty and at times, bad tempered affair which the referee’s bizarre performance certainly did not help.
The first half hour saw Albion go close twice through Fox and Hussain with a Johno Williams free kick being the best Ambers opportunity, before the visitors took the lead after 32 minutes. Eyles did well to hold the ball up until support arrived in the shape of Sam Smith, and a perfectly weighted pass to the centre forward was quickly despatched into the far corner.
However, the hard won lead lasted just five minutes when Fox was fortunate to see his shot from the edge of the box take a wicked deflection and balloon up and over the stranded Ben Townsend to level things up.
As far as goalmouth incidents went, that was really it for the first half other than an added time scramble at Townsend’s back post which Handsworth survived, and half of the second period had passed before either defence was in danger of being breached again, the visitors somehow keeping an Albion effort out with some desperate defending on the line.
With twenty minutes remaining, the decision was made to solidify and secure a point with a number of more defensive options being introduced from the bench, but The Ambers were reliant on Townsend who made an unbelievable save to deny Staunton whose header was destined for the back of the net.
As the game ticked into stoppage time, there was a glorious opportunity for The Ambers to win it, when subs Jon Hills, Rob Ludlam and Leon Howarth combined well but Howarth’s strike whistled past the far post and the referee blew for time shortly afterwards to end everyone’s misery.
However, it wasn’t to be, and the two sides battled their way to a 1-1 draw on a difficult night in a game which made the Hemsworth fixture look like an all action thriller. There was no lack of effort from both sides, but on the whole, it was a feisty and at times, bad tempered affair which the referee’s bizarre performance certainly did not help.
The first half hour saw Albion go close twice through Fox and Hussain with a Johno Williams free kick being the best Ambers opportunity, before the visitors took the lead after 32 minutes. Eyles did well to hold the ball up until support arrived in the shape of Sam Smith, and a perfectly weighted pass to the centre forward was quickly despatched into the far corner.
However, the hard won lead lasted just five minutes when Fox was fortunate to see his shot from the edge of the box take a wicked deflection and balloon up and over the stranded Ben Townsend to level things up.
As far as goalmouth incidents went, that was really it for the first half other than an added time scramble at Townsend’s back post which Handsworth survived, and half of the second period had passed before either defence was in danger of being breached again, the visitors somehow keeping an Albion effort out with some desperate defending on the line.
With twenty minutes remaining, the decision was made to solidify and secure a point with a number of more defensive options being introduced from the bench, but The Ambers were reliant on Townsend who made an unbelievable save to deny Staunton whose header was destined for the back of the net.
As the game ticked into stoppage time, there was a glorious opportunity for The Ambers to win it, when subs Jon Hills, Rob Ludlam and Leon Howarth combined well but Howarth’s strike whistled past the far post and the referee blew for time shortly afterwards to end everyone’s misery.
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