Ambers hold leaders in fine display

Alex Varley and Jamie Austin returned to The Ambers starting eleven for the tough encounter at league leaders Penistone Church, with the hosts on a seven game unbeaten run in all competitions, and the visitors looking to build on the victory over Athersley Rec last time out.
There was an early yellow card for Church skipper Howes after a robust challenge on Marley Grant out on the left touchline, but the winger was soon back on his feet and breaking clear of the Church defence. The ball was laid back to Alfie Eagle whose cross found Leon Howarth at the far side of the area but the resultant shot missed the target.
Almost immediately, Ring played in Mundy at the other end and Ben Townsend was forced into making a point blank save before Ring headed the resultant corner kick narrowly wide. The Ambers hit back and Varley played in Leon Osborne who raced into the Church box but Charlesworth reacted well and blocked the goal bound effort, before the visitors went closer still when a blocked free kick fell to Howarth who smashed a terrific effort against the bar with Dearnley well beaten.
It was then the Church fans bemoaning their luck when Josh Dacre was on hand to block Mundy’s lobbed effort on the line after Townsend had lost his race to the ball with the striker. The keeper was again called into action as he saved efforts from Coduri and Mundy in quick succession, before Austin had a decent drive deflected away for a corner, and on the stroke of half time Mundy beat the offside trap but not Townsend who was having a great game.
The second half began with Penistone forcing a corner within 15 seconds, Lovell eventually heading wide at the front post, and the big defender was soon left for dead by Grant down the right wing but a covering defender put the block in.
The home side started to build some good pressure and a clever pass from Ring played in Coduri but the midfielder shot over as Townsend quickly narrowed the angle, and the keeper was again on point when he flew across goal to turn a long ranger from Ellis away for a corner, from which he was quickly down to smother Lovell’s header.
Church should have taken the lead just before the hour when Mundy found Keightley all alone in the box but the shot flew over the bar, and a similar fate befell Ehsan Mohammed at the other end of the pitch, who fired in a good effort after some brilliant footwork had created the space.
Grant was replaced by Jaques Etia whose first involvement was to find Austin’s head with a pinpoint cross but the effort was saved, and the midfielder then headed a good chance over the bar from a corner. As time ticked on, the league leaders turned up the heat even more, Coduri firing another effort over the bar before a mass scramble in the Ambers area looked certain to break the deadlock but the visitors stood firm and survived the scare as Ring eventually hooked the ball over.
There was a late appearance off the bench for Mo Saeed, appearing for the first time since September 2017, but it was fellow sub Harry Mitchell who set up Howarth whose shot was smothered by Dearnley who then raced off his line in injury time when a defensive header almost fell to Howarth, but the keeper just got there first to ensure a goal less finish.
All in all, it was an excellent performance from The Ambers to deny a strong Penistone side who will undoubtedly be amongst the promotion contenders again at the end of the season.