Following Tuesday’s comeback point against Liversedge, The Ambers were hoping to go one better against another bogey team, Bridlington Town, who have won the last three games between the two sides.
After a fairly even start to the game, The Ambers took control on 10 minutes when Tom Dugdale collected the ball from Kieran Wells on the right, just outside the box, and fired in a beauty which beat Brid keeper Hitchcock all ends up. With the early advantage, The Ambers sensed there was an opportunity to put the game beyond the visitors and two minutes later, a clever front post flick by Colin Marrison from a Simon Harrison corner was headed off the Brid line, before a Micky Harcourt ball forward was headed on by Jon Froggatt to send his strike partner scuttling away, but after holding off the chasing defender, Wells’ shot trickled beyond the keeper but was swept off the line. Dugdale followed up but the keeper had recovered quickly enough to gather the shot.
This spell of football by Handsworth was as good as anything we have seen so far this season, and the visitors were really struggling to keep themselves in contention, so it was no surprise when the lead was doubled after half an hour, Wells heading home from a Dugdale cross. Harrison then created a chance of his own with some clever play but Hitchcock saved at full stretch, as he did again a minute later from a long distance strike from the impressive Tom Claisse.
As half time approached, Claisse played Wells through and the keeper saved bravely at his feet, the ball being cleared swiftly upfield to Adams who picked his spot well to reduce the arrears with Town’s first shot on target. It was a real kick in the teeth for the home side who had completely dominated their opponents with a fine attacking display.
Within four minutes of the second half starting, Town were level when Sutton was given too much room on the edge of the area and shot home unchallenged. The slight front man who had helped himself to a hat trick in this fixture last season suddenly became the dominant figure in the game and he went close twice in the next five minutes before Froggatt released Dugdale in a breakaway Ambers attack. The wide man was tugged down in the box and Froggatt slammed home the resultant penalty to put The Ambers back in front.
The lead did not last long however, as some sloppy defending allowed Sutton to race clear, only to be stopped by an illegal Connor Smythe challenge in the area resulting in a yellow card for the full back and a converted penalty by Sutton. Handsworth stormed back and twice, Dugdale got in at the back post to meet deep crosses from Ben Starosta but failed to net.
The Seasiders comeback was completed fifteen minutes from time, when another error at the back was punished again by Sutton who claimed another hat trick at our expense. Despite some late pressure from The Ambers, they failed to test the Brid keeper again and were left to rue earlier missed opportunities and some sloppy defending. A big reaction is required to reverse this early season slip up at Harrogate on Tuesday night.
HE Barnes Man of the Match – Tom Claisse