The Ambers’ latest jaunt up to the South bank of the River Humber saw the usual drama reveal itself in a game that had everything … goals, red cards, sin bins and injury woes, and it was the visitors who eventually came out on top with a hard fought 2-1 victory over their hosts, Barton Town.
There was an early blow for both sides as each lost a centre back in the pre-match warm up, Williamson for The Swans, and the in-form Ben Harriott succumbing to a tight hamstring to give Owen Haigh the opportunity to step back into the Handsworth back line after a spell on the bench. Mitch Dunne and Toby Kenyon also returned to the Ambers starting eleven as the management team looked for ways to earn a first win in four games.
The visitors started brightly with a well struck free kick from Dunne forcing Nicholson into an early save, and although the keeper couldn’t hold onto the shot, a defender was on hand to mop up the danger, before Brandon Bagley fired the next effort wide, whilst at the other end, a cushioned volley from Papprill missed the target.
There was another blow for The Ambers when top scorer Scott Ruthven succumbed to an ankle injury just half an hour into the game, but this gave Harry Jessop the chance for a rare run out in the lone striker role.
Both sides were cancelling each other out as they jousted for possession and no quarter was given in a game that was typical of most recent encounters between the two sides. There were also moments of quality as firstly Fernando Tavares hit a good effort just over the bar, before Lovick did likewise for The Swans, and Dylan Parkin was then forced into a save after the towering Papprill met a cross from Abraham but couldn’t get enough power behind his header.
Dunne then had a glorious opportunity to sneak The Ambers ahead when he latched onto a loose ball in the box but after poking the ball past Nicholson, a covering defender was on hand to sweep the ball off the line and keep the game scoreless.
As half time approached, the game suddenly exploded when Tyler Williams, after winning the ball from Edwards in the centre circle, was caught by a flailing elbow right in front of the referee, and the home player received a straight red card.
With the extra man, The Ambers started to dominate possession in the early stages of the second half, and after Bagley had found the side netting after a corner, a moment of real quality lit up the game. Tavares picked up a loose ball after some tenacious ratting in midfield and carried the ball forward before unleashing a fine drive which flew beyond the keeper to give the youngster his third goal of the season.
The home side made a double substitution with the dangerous Guilfoyle coming off the bench, but it was fellow sub Green who almost levelled things up for the ten men when his curling effort from just outside the box had Parkin beaten but the shot curled just wide of the target.
The Ambers then moved quickly upfield and won a corner, from which Bagley flicked the ball on to Tavares but this time, from a lot closer in, the goal scorer missed the target, and that was to be his last contribution, as just a minute later, his ill-judged challenge on Lovick saw him receive a red card as the referee succumbed to the pressure that the overcrowding home players put on him, despite the tackle clearly taking the ball and making no contact with his opponent whatsoever.
Insult was immediately added to injury when, from the resultant free kick, Haigh was harshly penalised on the edge of the area for a supposed foul as he challenged for an aerial ball, and from the free kick, Guilfoyle was desperately unlucky to see his shot smash against the bar, but Waudby was first to react in the aftermath and he headed home the equaliser from close range.
With the scores and the number of players now levelled up, it was all to play for and looked like it could be a bumpy last half hour for The Ambers, but they kept at it and Bagley stabbed another half chance wide, before Parkin superbly tipped a header from Papprill over the bar.
Bagley, having put in a great shift, departed the scene with Alfie Dodsworth coming on, but it was Dunne on the other wing who tried his luck with a lob over the retreating Nicholson but there wasn’t enough elevation on it and the keeper was able to make a comfortable catch. At the other end, Guilfoyle tried his luck from 40 yards but this time the shot had too much height and it sailed harmlessly over the bar.
The Ambers were soon on the attack again through Dunne who won a corner, and from Johno Williams’ delivery, Henry Carne’s header fell at the feet of Jessop who took a touch before spinning around and despatching the ball past the keeper to give the visitors a precious advantage with just fourteen minutes remaining.
It was then time for the tin hats as Barton threw everything at The Ambers, who had to sub a sub as Dodsworth became the latest injury victim after appearing to twist his back, Ollie Currie coming on to add further strength in the middle of the park, where the partnership of Sam Fewkes and Kenyon had battled manfully throughout.
The Ambers back line stood firm although there was a late scare when Pulford’s low strike skimmed the outside of the post, and the final act of the drama saw Dunne sin-binned for disputing a decision deep into added on time, but not even that could take the shine off a hard earned three points.
The Ambers are on the road again this weekend when they travel to West Yorkshire to face Frickley Athletic, now managed of course by ex-Amber Tom Claisse.