10 man Ambers miss out in 9 goal thriller

A real Christmas cracker was served up at Sheerien Park last weekend between hosts Athersley Recreation and The Ambers, with gifts aplenty and a starring role for pantomime villain Anthony Tankard, the not so wise man in the middle.
The visitors got off to a flier when a Simon Harrison free kick on the left was glanced home by Gareth Griffiths after just six minutes, but any thoughts of a third successive 7-1 Ambers victory over these opponents lasted just seven minutes, when Garside found himself with sufficient time and space in the box to scuff home an equaliser.
However, no sooner had the Rec In Crew finished celebrating, than The Ambers were back in front, a lung busting dash down the left wing by Danny Buttle resulting in a close range finish to give Aaron Moxam his 35th goal of the season.
Back came the hosts though and the game was turned on its head with two goals in a minute. Firstly a long ball over the top found the dangerous Hancock whose dazzling footwork took him past Griffiths and Archie Sneath to finish in style, before Owen chipped home unexpectedly from a tight angle to give the home side a 3-2 advantage.
The game then exploded after a Hancock foul on Griffiths led to the Ambers centre back retaliating and rightly receiving a red card. However, how the original perpetrator and his strike partner Garside who ran 20 yards to involve himself, escaped with just a yellow card each beggared belief. Unfortunately, the lack of a fourth official means that the poor performance of the official will go unpunished whilst his lack of decisive action undoubtedly cost The Ambers three precious points.
The Ambers re-grouped with Harrison dropping in at right back and Stuart Ludlam moving into the middle of the back four alongside the impressive Will Eades, and it was the visitors who struck next to level things up when home keeper Halpine dropped a Connor Smythe cross at the feet of Jon Froggatt who tapped home.
The half time talk amongst The Ambers fans was that the three points were well within our grasp despite the numerical disadvantage, but there was a huge setback immediately as, in their first attack, a long free kick into the box was bundled home by Kilburn to make it 4-3 to Rec. The Ambers almost levelled straight away as Froggatt volleyed wide but two minutes later, a Buttle free kick was headed home by the towering Eades to make it 4 apiece before the centre back then showed his defensive skills by clearing a Rec effort off the line.
Both sides were really going for it by this stage and the game was a treat for any neutrals watching as chances came and went at both ends before Rec struck the killer blow eight minutes from time. Hancock escaped down the right and crossed for Garside to prod home, a particularly galling result given the pairs earlier misdemeanours. There was still time for sub Andy Ofosu to see his back heeled effort cleared off the line as The Ambers laid siege to the Rec goal but the home side held firm to claim a massive three points.

Belgrave Motor Company Man of The Match – Will Eades