Table Topping Triumph

Table Topping Hepworth United entertained Second place Yorkshire Amateurs at Far Lane, Hepworth in what could prove to be a deciding factor in the search for this seasons champions. Hepworth with two game remaining both against Yorkshire Amateurs with todays game being their first encounter. Hepworths last game of the season is away at Yorkshire Amateurs on Wednesday the 1st of May with a 7.45pm kick off in what may decide who wins and who finishes runners up. Yorkshire Amateurs need a win against Tingley and at home againstnHepworth where as the Far Lane Based Hepworth need just a point away, Unless Yorkshire Amateurs fail to win against Tingley. Losts of twists and turns to go in the last few weeks of the season as there was in this match today.
Hepworth playing up the slope took the game to Ammers from the off and for long periods had them pinned in their own half. Hepworth with another re-jigged team due to injuries and work and holidays on the whole looked pretty comfortable throughout the first half. They went close several times early on as Iggleden caused problems up front and forced several great saves from the away keeper, Renata Feherova also had a couple of good chances but just couldnt keep her shot down on her first attempt and then saw her second go just wide. Hannah Nicholl caused mayhem down the right and created loads of attacking chances for her team mates. Yorkshire Amateurs did have a few chances but found the back four of Purchon, Robshaw, Husband and Green in superb form and on the odd occasion they were beaten Rebecca Harper was always there to clear up and make some vital clerances and punches from several corners and the odd good save. The midfield of Feherova, Nicholl, Prebrezova and captain Forrest linked up great with the back four and orchestrated by Claire Berry in her holding role. They moved the ball around well and were more mobile than the Ammers for long periods. Their hard work kept the supply to Iggleden up front constant and they were quick to get up in support.
Their hard work eventually paid off in the 20th minute when Abigail Iggleden broke clear onto a through ball on the left and cut inside turning the defender inside out before curling her shot around the keeper into the far corner of the goal to make it 1 - 0 to Hepworth. They kept Ammers out with some great team work untill the 38th minute Ammers were awarded a very weak penalty following their experienced midfielder selling it well to the official John Hewitt. Mr Hewitt had a very busy match as play was fast and furious throughout as both teams battled hard for the win and bragging rights going in to the final weeks of the season. The Midfielder having looked like she had been demolished got straight up on the whistle to grab the ball and smashed home the equaliser from the spot to make it 1-1 at half time.
Playing down the slope in the second half with a strong wind at times Hepworth carried on with their approach to the match and pressed hard forcing then Ammers to defend, they did manage to cause a few problems for Hepworth as they pumped balls forwad for their pacey forward but she was well marshalled for most of the game, a few scares came about but Robshaw and Green delt with it on the right an Purchon and Husband did the same down the other flank, with the help of the midfield who worked hard up and down the field. A battle commenced in the midfield as Ammers experienced players got stuck in and nibbled away causing Mr Hewitt to be alert on every occasion. Merita Prebrezova was the first villain as having been wrongly adjudged to have fouled for the penalty the official was sold a free kick to the official again when she had infact slipped and lost the ball only this time Prebresova was cautioned. This did not stop Prebrezova who upped her work rate even higher. Hepworth went close again through Iggleden who had several chances but was thwarted again, and Steph Teale who came on for Renata Feherova went close a couple of times as the Ammers goal was pepered with shots for all areas. As the clock ran down it was looking like heading for a draw, Hepworh threw on Becky Kirk in defence for Paige Green and Claudia Cleary for Hannah Nicholl. Kirk used her strength and aerial supremacy well against the Ammers as they pushed hard in the final 20 minutes but found Kirk difficult to beat and her long throws were a good way of clering the ball. Cleary worked hard on the right in both defence and attack and keep chasing everything in midfield, with 15 minutes to go the lively Iggleden was forced off the field having been kicked for the umpteenth time and Renata Feherova going on as her replacement. The winning goal came on 80 minutes as vilain turned hero Merita prebrezova chased down athough ball as the keeper ran out of her area, the keeper got their just ahead of Prebrezova but her clerance struck Prebrezova in the face and fell kindly for her and she raced clear towards goal under pressure from both the keeper and two defenders but she calmly fired home into the bottom corner to snatch the win and pile on the pressure for Ammers. The Ammers tried their hardest in the final 10 minutes which ran in to nearly 14 minutes but Hepworth held firm for a well deserved 3 points and set the season up for a last game shootout. The Player of the match award was unanimously awarded to merita Prebrezova following her outstnding performance.