There were two new ‘old’ faces in The Ambers line up for the visit of near neighbours Retford United, as Tom Claisse returned after a spell working away, and Stuart Ludlam who made his third ‘debut’ at Albion Sports last week started the game.
Right from the first whistle, The Ambers were in dominant form and even before a close range finish from Simon Harrison opened the scoring after Ludlam’s cross reached him in the six yard box, both Alex Rippon and Jon Froggatt had come close.
Two minutes later, Danny Buttle, who was having an absolute field day down the left, crossed to Froggatt whose towering header bounced away off the post with Jepson beaten. Buttle then drove infield and smashed a long range strike over the bar as The Ambers threatened to cut loose. Retford full back Wyld then left the field with an injury after suffering a torrid time from the rampant Buttle, and just a minute later, a sumptuous ball from Froggatt released Buttle and his cross was headed home at the front post by Aaron Moxam, scoring for the fourth successive game.
Froggatt had a goal ruled out for offside a minute later but the relief was short lived for The Badgers, as Moxam got away down the left and fired home with the aid of a wicked deflection from a Retford defender. On 27 minutes, the prolific front man made it an eight minute hat trick as he tapped into an empty net following some great work on the right by strike partner Froggatt who turned his marker inside out before delivering the final ball. The early signs of this flourishing partnership were there for all to see.
There was no respite for United as a defensive header on halfway released Moxam in acres of space and bearing down on goal. After sidestepping the onrushing keeper, he unselfishly laid the ball off for Buttle to stroke home the fifth.
With Retford offering nothing going forward, it was a game of attack v defence by this time, and it was clear who was on top. Goal number six arrived ten minutes before the break when Rippon headed home from a pinpoint free kick from Buttle, and the right winger then fired inches over after Harrison set him up. As half time approached there was no let up and Buttle twice went close whilst Connor Smythe blasted over after a good run into the box.
The second half began with Ryan Lee on in place of the injured Rippon and the question was whether The Ambers would be able to keep up the momentum and go on to win big, something they had never really achieved before when offered the opportunity.
Moxam twice went close to increasing the lead as Handsworth were soon back into their rhythm, but it was the visitors who came closest to scoring when Joe Green was called into action for the first time on 55 minutes when he had to go full length to keep out an effort which skimmed off the top of Gareth Griffiths’ head.
This proved a mere inconvenience as the home side pushed forward again at will, and the front two combined brilliantly again as Moxam crossed for Froggatt to prod home the goal that his all round performance had richly deserved.
A Buttle corner was then met by Moxam whose effort was blocked and Griffiths was first to react as he leapt highest to head home number eight, and the winger, by now causing chaos down the right, fired in a cross which was spilled as far as Harrison who smashed home his second of the game to cap an outstanding individual performance.
Lee almost got in on the act but volleyed a difficult chance wide, before an outrageous dummy by Ludlam released Buttle on the right. The full back received the ball back and struck a decent shot which was saved but Moxam snapped up the rebound to take The Ambers into double figures.
The Ambers continued to dominate proceedings up until the final whistle and some credit must go to the visitors who never threw the towel in or resorted to anything underhand, but on the day, Handsworth were a class apart and the scoreline was not at all flattering.

HE Barnes Man of The Match – Aaron Moxam