After a top quality performance that produced everything but a glut of goals from numerous gilt edged chances, The Ambers threw away two precious points as they conceded an injury time goal that earned visitors Barton Town a point that they could scarcely believe was coming their way.
There was a debut for new signing Jack Dolman at left back and a recall for Henry Carne as Handsworth looked to build on their last six goal home performance against Goole, and if they had had their shooting boots on again, they may have had another comfortable evening.
The Ambers were on top right from the start when an Alfie Dodsworth free kick whistled through a crowded penalty area to just miss the far post, before Craig Nelthorpe released Mitch Dunne down the left and from his cross, Shaun Tuton just failed to get his head on the ball at an unguarded back post.
Barton then missed a great opportunity of their own when Tom Waudby drilled his effort wide after being picked out by a great crossfield ball, but The Ambers were immediately on the front foot again when Tuton robbed the ball off a Barton defender and tried an audacious lob over Musselwhite, but the retreating keeper was alive to it and the save was comfortable in the end. Just a minute later, another golden chance came the way of The Ambers when Dunne, finding space in the area, turned and volleyed straight at the keeper at point blank range.
Dylan Parkin then came to the fore as he saved from Waudby during a scramble in the home box before the ball was hacked away from danger. There was then some controversy as Matt Reay picked up a yellow card for a robust challenge on Cook as he cleared his lines, which looked more accidental than deliberate, but the injury sustained saw the Barton midfielder soon replaced.
Mitch Carlton then followed his team mate into the book for a late challenge on Coley, and the midfielder, having arguably his best game yet for The Ambers, saw a snap shot deflected away for a corner late in the half.
The Ambers began the second half in the same vein and a Dolman cross fell to Dodsworth whose deflected shot landed at Carlton’s feet, his chip beating Musselwhite but bouncing on the top of the bar and away to safety. Dodsworth then played a great through ball to Tuton and his shot drifted inches wide of the far post, before The Swans missed a glorious chance of their own when King’s cross picked out an unmarked Cable who steered his effort wide of a gaping goal.
Dunne then fired wide after a terrific ball through to him from Carlton, and Waudby was then carded for a foul on Tom Bishop who had to hobble off the pitch straight away, Masai Arbouin coming on in his place. Musselwhite then proved to be Barton’s saviour again when he got down to push Tuton’s vicious strike around the post, before saving from Dolman and then Tuton again.
The visitors brought on veteran Winn and youngster Chapman midway through the half and their introduction seemed to give them a bit more belief and a chance to wrestle some control back in midfield, but it was The Ambers who should have made the breakthrough as Carne missed a sitter when he arrived late at the far post to get his head onto Dodsworth’s cross, but he was unable to direct his effort on target. The chance was almost duplicated at the other end shortly after when Swan’s centre back Papprill found himself free at the back post, but his header flew back across goal rather than towards it and the ball was cleared.
The ball was quickly transferred up to the other end and some Dodsworth magic on the right wing set up Tom Cropper whose shot seemed destined for the back of the net until what looked like a Barton defenders hand deflected it away, but despite the protestations of the home players, the referee did not listen and played on. Handsworth were now well on top and just when it felt that it may be one of those nights, the breakthrough finally came six minutes from time. Cropper’s run and cross from the right picked out Carlton who nodded the ball down to Dodsworth, and when his shot flew towards goal, Dunne celebrated his 100th Ambers start by deflecting it into the roof the net with his head.
Leon Howarth was immediately introduced from the bench and his first touch was a thunderbolt from 20 yards which crashed against the post, and he followed this up with a side footed effort which Musselwhite was equal to. The Ambers continued to push forward in search of a second to secure the points, and that naivety cost them deep into injury time when they were caught out by a long ball from Greaves that found it’s way to Chapman who was able to cross into the path of Waudby who slotted home to break Handsworth’s hearts.
As has been said before, football is a game of fine margins, and on another night, we could have been celebrating a comfortable victory, but the late sucker punch made it feel like a defeat, whilst for Barton who, to be fair, defended stoutly all night, Christmas had come early.
It’s a local derby next for The Ambers as Maltby Main come calling on Saturday, so let’s hope some of those chances can be converted into goals.