100 up for Froggatt

Gary Stevens returned to The Ambers starting eleven due to the unavailability of Jonathan Hedge in what was the only change from the side that comprehensively despatched Bottesford Town on Saturday, and striker Jon Froggatt was the man under the spotlight as he went in search of his 100th goal for Handsworth.
However, it was his partner Jordan Turner who set Sandy Lane alight after just four minutes when he was on hand to pick up the pieces from an Ozzy Radford free kick, turning and firing past visiting keeper Townsend from close range to give The Ambers the perfect start to what looked likely to be a tricky encounter.
As expected, Rainworth who included ex Ambers Danny Booth and Richard Adams in their starting side, picked themselves up from the early setback and exerted some good pressure, with Stevens being called into action as he raced out of his area to clear from the onrushing Modest, before parrying a snap shot from former Worksop man Jordan.
The Ambers soaked up the pressure well and began to take charge again midway through the half. Jamie Green had a great opportunity when he raced on to a Steve Istead pass, beat the full back but fired well wide after the ball bobbled just as he pulled the trigger. However, two minutes later, Turner raced onto a Josh Hemmingway through ball, rounded the keeper and stroked home his second of the night.
The Ambers were really turning on the style now, playing arguably some of their best football of the season so far. A great move involving Istead, Jed Phillips and Green played in Hemmingway at the back post but his shot hit the side netting before Froggatt missed a golden chance when he headed wide from a Green cross with the net gaping.
The Wrens came back and created their clearest opportunity yet when Poole’s downward header at the far post had Stevens scurrying across goal to smother, but in response Brad Nicholson charged down the left wing for the hosts and his cross found Phillips whose excellent strike was brilliantly kept out by Townsend. As half time approached, the mercurial Turner broke away down the right and turned his marker this way and that, the defender getting the last touch to the ball which sailed over the stranded Townsend, leaving an unmarked Froggatt to nod home his landmark goal and spark wild celebrations.
For the second successive game, The Ambers came out for the second half with the points virtually in the bag, so were able to sit back a little and soak up some pressure with a view to hitting their opponents on the break. Poole had an early sighter showing Rainworth’s intent, before a Radford free kick was well saved by a flying Townsend. The Wrens then almost had the ball in the net but Lee Cooksey was on hand to head the ball off the line, and the action was soon back up at the other end, Stuart Ludlam’s cross coming back off the far post after a great move.
Green was then cleverly played in by Istead only to be denied by Townsend, before a driven Radford cross was headed just over by substitute Rippon, recently brought on to replace Turner. Rippon then released Green down the left, and as he cut into the box, he was upended for a clear penalty award. Up stepped Froggatt and the result was never in doubt as he crashed the ball home to complete the scoring.
The Ambers pushed on looking for a fifth, and Nicholson came close after a mazy run, but his effort was hacked off the line, with follow up shots from sub Jon Hill and Ludlam being charged down. The last action of the game saw Froggatt just miss out on a second successive hat trick when his header from an Ollie Yates cross narrowly missed the target.

HE Barnes Man of The Match – Jordan Turner