Ambers Draw at the Seaside

It was a cold wintery visit to Cleethorpes, the pitch was heavy and the incessant rain was with us all night....but this didn't deter the 2 sides from producing an excellent game of football.

Interim Manager Mick Godber made 2 changes from Saturdays win at Pickering with Kieran Scargill & Alex Rippon given starting places .

The game started at a fast tempo with both sides looking to get out of the blocks, The Owls were marshaling a very high line in a ploy to make the pitch smaller in the early stages.

The 1st chance of the game fell to Froggatt whose well struck shot was well saved by Fenty, the 1st 15 minutes saw plenty of huff and puff from both sides but no real clear cut chances.

Scargill was growing into the game and showed time and time again his great range of passing as well as his ability to assist the frontline with probing runs, Sam Denton & Gaz Griffiths were marshaling the Ambers back line well and this foundation enabled the away side to begin to get a foothold in the game.

Scargill's fine ball resulted in a flurry of 3 successive corners with Buttle's deflected effort inches from opening the scoring.

Luke Fletcher was building on his impressive performance at Pickering and his Powerful run and pass saw his midfield partner Scargill make space in the box and fire a well hit shot that was well saved.

The home side had their 1st real effort on goal on 26 minutes when a quick break , saw Trott fire wide of Sneath's post from 18 yards.

Buttle was a thorn in the side of his marker and was beginning to cause his customary problems with some fine runs and crosses, on 29 minutes Luke Fletcher rose well and headed a Buttle cross goalbound only to be denied by a scrambling Fenty save on the goal line.

Sneath came to the Ambers rescue denying Trott with his legs on a one on one after the Cleethorpes number 10 broke free from his marker.

Soon after the Ambers opened the scoring Buttle tormented the Full back before putting a peach of a cross into the box that was met by a bullet header from Kieran Wells which flew into the net giving the keeper no chance and the Ambers a deserved leads on 32 minutes.

Straight from the restart the home side tested Sneath with a cross shot that he saved well.

The Ambers finished the half very well with Froggatt , Rippon, Buttle, Wells & Denton all being denied by good defending and goalkeeping .

HALF TIME 1-0 Ambers

As the teams came out for the 2nd half the rain and freezing wind was cranked up a notch... and it was the home side who had more intent and tempo to their game who started the better.

Rippon and Buttle linked up well as the Ambers looked to get their rhythm and own tempo, but they were soon thanking in form keeper Sneath after a world class save denied Luke Maskell whose fine volley was goal bound until Archie someone got a touch on the ball onto the bar and the danger was cleared.

On 59 minutes Cleethorpes had a golden opportunity to draw level, with a free header at the far post with an open goal at the home sides players mercy....he somehow failed to connect.

Sneath found Scargill whose powerful break and pass out Wells in on goal, the defender pushed him wide and the number 10 produced a fine cross which was agonizingly close to Froggatt's head , a fine move and reminder to our hosts of the dangers we can pose.

On 70 Minutes however our hosts scored an excellent goal through Maskill, the right winger cut inside his marker and from a full 25 yards on the angle fired a fine shot into the far top corner and beyond a despairing dive by Sneath.

The equalizer saw the Ambers look to get back in front with shots from Froggatt, Fletcher and Wells failing to trouble Fenty in the home goal.

On 78 Minutes Scargill who had been excellent all night both in and out of possession was replaced by Warne, and Warne fed Froggatt with his 1st pass of the night and Froggatt's cross was just short of the onrushing Wells for what would have been a certain goal.

Sneath made another good save as a flurry of substitutions disrupted the rhythm of the game with Marrison & Joynes entering the fray for Rippon & Froggatt.

As the referee blew for Full Time ...there were some very tired legs on both sides and on reflection a well earned point from a game that saw the Ambers take the 1st half and our hosts take the 2nd .

Another excellent away performance from the Ambers who will be pleased with a 4 point haul from 2 very tricky long distance away trips in 5 days.

A final note of thanks to those who travelled in poor conditions to support the lads , we thank you all so very much .

The Ambers are next in action on Saturday when we host Retford United at Sandy Lane 3pm Ko.