Having won seven league games on the bounce against Bottesford Town, an eighth looked a formality at half time as The Ambers raced into a 3-0 lead in little more than half an hour, but full credit to the visitors who could count themselves unfortunate to be so far behind, but certainly had the better of the second period as they fought back to take a share in the points as The Ambers imploded.
Central to the mad game that threw up six goals, three penalties (two scored and one missed), two sin bins, umpteen yellow cards and one red card, were the officials who produced one of the most bizarre performances ever seen on this ground, which left players, staff and supporters of both teams scratching their heads in amazement and frustration.
It all started so well for the hosts as they swept into a 3rd minute lead, Leon Howarth racing onto a Sam Fewkes through ball, before cutting inside and thrashing the ball into the corner of Quibell’s net, and two minutes later Howarth set up Shaun Tuton who did everything right but was unlucky to see his strike come back off the post. From the rebound, Mitch Dunne set up Michael Trench on the overlap and his low cross was inches away from Mason Barlow on the slide in a great spell that threatened to blow away the visitors.
Bottesford did manage to steady the ship and Ayris hit a good effort wide before some slack defending allowed Walker to play Moody in, but Dylan Parkin was out quickly to save the shot, but the warning signs were there.
Parkin’s next involvement was to collect a high cross, and his instant release upfield saw Dunne hold off Jurkstis and take a touch of the falling ball before deftly lobbing it over the retreating Quibell in fine style to double the lead. What a great way for the skipper to celebrate his 50th Ambers goal!
Once again, The Poachers came back and from a deep corner, Griffin’s goal bound header was deflected wide by Howarth, and the Town skipper was involved at the other end minutes later when he was on hand to head Dunne’s chip over Quibell off the line to prevent a third Ambers goal.
Ayris then hit an excellent effort wide courtesy of a diving save by Parkin, but the referee inexplicably awarded a goal kick to The Ambers, much to the frustration of the visitors, who were even more annoyed just minutes later when Handsworth extended their lead. Fewkes fed Tuton down the left wing and from his cross, the chance seemed to have slipped away as Masai Arbouin was tackled on the edge of the box, but Howarth was on hand to lash home the loose ball for his second of the game.
The scoreline was a tad harsh on the visitors but they didn’t let their heads drop despite Broadley missing a great opportunity when he was put through and seemed destined to score, but Parkin was again the hero as he kept him out at the expense of a corner, Griffin heading wide from the back post delivery. The half ended with Dunkerley shooting well over and Broadley drilling an effort wide, either side of a curling Johno Williams free kick which was comfortably held by Quibell.
The Poachers came out for the second half clearly energised and had a strong appeal for a handball in the Ambers box turned away by the officials within a minute of the re-start, but they didn’t have to wait long before a spot kick was awarded when Broadley, capitalising on a loose ball, raced into the box and went down under a Fewkes challenge, Walker slotting home to reduce the arrears.
The striker should then have doubled his tally when a back pass went astray and he raced through but could only hit a tame effort straight at the grateful Parkin. Fawcett then picked up a yellow card for a foul on Barlow, and from the free kick, Tom Cropper was manhandled at the back post as he seemed destined to score, and the referee pointed to the spot. With regular penalty taker Alfie Dodsworth still sat on the bench, Howarth jumped at the opportunity to claim his hat trick, but his well struck effort thumped against the keeper’s right hand post and away to safety.
On such pivotal moments, games are often decided, and ten minutes later, after Parkin had saved Broadley’s effort at full stretch, Williams went to clear the loose ball but was adjudged to have fouled his opponent whilst doing so, and the third penalty of the day was awarded. Such was the disbelief from the home players, that both Trench and Matt Reay were sent to cool off for ten minutes after allegedly speaking out of turn to the referee, leaving The Ambers down to nine men temporarily. To add insult to injury, Walker calmly slotted home his second of the game to set things up for a tense final quarter.
Extra defensive reinforcements arrived in the shape of Owen Haigh as Arbouin had to be sacrificed, and as expected with a two man advantage, Town piled on the pressure but the home defence stood firm and almost broke out to score when Barlow raced onto a Dunne pass but was eventually halted by Quibell who dived at his feet to grab the ball.
In a perverse turn of events, The Ambers were finally back up to full strength when a corner was only cleared out as far as Dunkerley and his pot shot took a deflection before nestling in the back of the net to level things up. Dodsworth came on in place of Williams in a forward thinking move and it almost paid off immediately when the sub sent Tuton away on the right, and from his ball inside, Cropper picked out Barlow at the back post but his close range effort struck the crossbar and bounced away to safety.
Some fine play on the right touchline by Cropper saw the full back send over a teasing cross which Quibell could only parry, but as he went to grab the loose ball, Reay slipped as he made a challenge and caught the keeper. Despite it appearing to be an accidental challenge, the referee deemed it worthy of a red card and once again, The Ambers were a man down. Tuton had to be sacrificed to allow Rion Arbouin to slot in at the back, and aside from a Fawcett header which Parkin touched around the post, The Ambers stood firm and were grateful to hear the final whistle, albeit the sense of frustration was palpable.
With upcoming fixtures against Penistone Church and Albion Sports on the horizon, this really was an opportunity lost.