The Ambers’ great start to the season hit a bit of a bump in the road as they fell to a 4-1 defeat at Rossington Main, and whilst the score
line may have been a little harsh given the performance, there was no doubt that the home side fully deserved to take all three points.
With the amount of games played over the past few weeks taking its toll, there were three changes made to the starting eleven, with Craig Nelthorpe, Mason Barlow and Aaron Moxam coming in, and a first appearance this season in the matchday squad for Leon Howarth who started on the bench.
The Ambers got off to the worst possible start when they were exposed down their left flank by Kianga who put the ball on a plate for Grayson to help himself to a 4th minute opener for the hosts, and things went from bad to worse 10 minutes later when former Amber, Harrison forced the ball home after Grayson had followed the same route to goal.
To be fair to Handsworth, they tried hard to find a way back into the game, with Brandon Bagley to the fore generally, but Main’s debutant keeper Hassall was rarely troubled, the closest the visitors coming was when Moxam managed to get through only to be stopped by an excellent block tackle as he got his shot away.
Despite being 2-0 down at the break, the Ambers faithful may still have been harbouring hopes of a comeback, but these were soon shattered when Kianga broke quickly down the left in the opening minutes of the second half, and despite Dylan Parkin saving his first effort, the striker followed up to extend the lead.
With the game slipping away, four subs including Howarth were introduced by The Ambers to try and stop the rot, but to no avail as one of Main’s replacements, Hannah showed his fox in the box credentials as he latched onto a loose ball that had slipped out of Parkin’s grasp, to net the fourth goal.
The Ambers rallied once again and at least took something positive from the game when Bagley’s volley from just inside the area looped over Hassall’s head and into the far corner of the net, but it was too little too late, albeit there was still time for Hannah to rattle the Ambers bar and for Hassall to earn his money by two good late stops to deny Alfie Dodsworth and Howarth in quick succession.
All in all, one to forget for The Ambers on a day when victory would have seen them top the table, as leaders Silsden came unstuck at Golcar. With no midweek game, there is a bit of time for the squad to re-group ahead of the next challenge when Thackley visit The Express Worktops Stadium next Saturday.