Ambers edge past Albion

With The Ambers shorn of the combined talents of Starosta, Eades, Denton, Rippon, Scargill and Wilson due to injuries, the squad was stretched to its limits, resulting in a return at right back for Billy Wright, freshly re-signed from Shirebrook Town and places on the bench for other new arrivals, Tom Claisse and Tyler Bates.
On a poor playing surface, it was the home side who started the stronger and two decent long range efforts showed early intent before The Ambers had their first sniff of a chance, a good Kieran Wells header from a Danny Buttle cross beating the stranded keeper but landing just off target.
It was good end to end fare, with Habib looking good again for the home team and Hendrie featuring well on the right against an out of position Simon Harrison, who stuck to his task well. There was a strong penalty appeal on 17 minutes when Luke Fletcher appeared to be chopped down as he turned to shoot after good approach play from Steve Warne and Tawanda Rupere, but the ref was having none of it, and shortly afterwards, The Ambers resorted to a 4-4-2 formation with Rupere going up top with Wells and they started to take a grip of the game, as Rupere’s strong running stretched the Albion back line.
Only a terrific save by young keeper Trennary kept out a superb overhead kick from Wells after a back stick header from Colin Marrison found the striker six yards out, and Marrison then headed over from a Buttle cross shortly after as Handsworth attacked at will.
A tweaked hamstring resulted in Fletcher being replaced by Claisse just before the break, whilst close range efforts from Richard Adams and Wells both narrowly missed the target as The Ambers finished the half well.
As with the first half, it was the home side that started the better and only excellent defending by Wright and Harrison and some juggling from Archie Sneath kept them at bay and for the next twenty minutes it was very much nip and tuck in what was becoming a tight and tense affair. Jon Froggatt made his return to action on 70 minutes to try and conjure up something and after a Wells cross towards him was blocked at the expense of a corner, the breakthrough came via a close range header from Wells from Harrison’s pinpoint delivery.
As expected, Albion came back strongly and only some resolute defensive work kept them at bay, Sneath pulling off an excellent stop from a Habib strike, before Harrison and Wright cleared their lines well as The Lions hammered at the door, but to no avail.
It was certainly not the nine goal thriller we had at Sandy Lane earlier in the season but was an intriguing watch all the same and The Ambers can be happy with their efforts to garner another three points on the road after a battling display against tough opponents.