Semi-Final awaits The Ambers after shoot out drama

After falling to defeat twice against Garforth Town already this season, only the most optimistic of Ambers followers would have foreseen Handsworth’s progression to the Semi-Finals of the NCEL League Cup, but that was the outcome at the end of an evenly contested game when victory came in the most dramatic of ways.
Both sides made changes from the previous weekend’s line ups, with Ant Mackie, Alfie Smith, Johno Williams, Leon Howarth and Jimmy Eyles all returning to the starting eleven for The Ambers, whilst the absence of Town’s influential play maker Sam Barker was a massive pre-match fillip for the hosts.
The Miners set their stall out early doors as they set off on the front foot, Barkway having an early attempt blocked and Marshall firing an effort wide before a long ball from Alfie Smith found his namesake Sam, whose effort from the edge of the box was off target, in a rare foray forward from The Ambers.
Town continued to pin The Ambers back, Thompson’s long range effort going close before Liam McFadyen made a timely block to divert a Burgess strike away from goal and Ejupi then dragged an effort wide after he got beyond the Handsworth back line. What was evident was that The Ambers were restricting Garforth to long range efforts, whilst at the other end, a headed attempt by centre back Smith from a Williams corner was probably the nearest either side had come to breaking the deadlock.
Howarth was then denied by a Wells save and when Garforth quickly broke clear, Klearchos Filandras had to be at his best to repel the visitors before a follow up effort from Leach was deflected wide, and the keeper followed that up with a save from Marshall’s effort as The Ambers desperately hung on.
Town then had a decent shout for a penalty turned down after McFadyen looked to have handled the ball in the area, but their disappointment at not getting a positive reaction from the officials only spurred them on, with Burgess and Thompson both having unsuccessful attempts before the half time whistle blew.
The Ambers began the second half with Ollie Grady replacing Morgan James who had picked up a first half injury, and the hosts certainly began the half better than the first, Howarth in particular seeing more of the ball and creating some opportunities down the left. Smith almost netted with a back post volley but was unable to keep his shot down as he arrived at pace to meet a corner, but Town were also creating half chances of their own. Burgess was at the heart of most of their better moments and he forced Filandras into a save before Ejupi fired a good chance over the bar, and Marshall shot wide after breaking into the area.
Eyles was then denied by an excellent sliding tackle as he was about to pull the trigger after a Howarth flick on had sent him racing beyond the Town back line, and as the game moved into the last ten minutes, The Ambers really started to ramp up the pressure with a series of long throws from Michael Trench causing problems in the Garforth box with one goal line clearance denying the hosts, but Garforth stood firm and the game ended goal less and went straight to penalties.
Smith and Howarth’s spot kicks were matched by Coupland and Marshall, before Grady hit his effort over the bar, but Filandras denied Garforth the advantage as he saved Antcliff’s effort. Mackie and Burgess both scored to keep the scores level and the pressure was on Rion Arbouin but the youngster showed no nerves as he found the corner to make it sudden death for the visitors. As Ejupi’s effort cleared the bar, pandemonium broke out as The Ambers reached the Semi-Final stage for the first time in five years, and ensured that our season will not just be left to peter out.
Next up for The Ambers is a trip to Leeds at the weekend to face struggling Yorkshire Amateur, who will be desperate to avenge their 9-1 defeat to us earlier in the season and to put right the wrongs of their heavy defeat at Bottesford in midweek.