Aberford edge out Amaranth in 5 goal thriller

A stirring second half comeback from Amaranth Manstonians ultimately fell short of earning anything from an entertaining encounter at Nanny Goat Lane after a host of late chances went begging.

Playing against a bitterly cold, strong wind in the first half, Amaranth struggled early on against the side that had given them a footballing lesson earlier in the season, handing out a 6-1 drubbing. The fixture venue was switched to Amaranth after the Aberford pitch failed an inspection but it was the team from 5 miles to the North East that adapted quicker to the tricky conditions, racing into a 2 – 0 lead.

An uncharacteristic rushed clearance from super keeper O’Brien went straight to an Aberford forward who diverted the ball into the path of a suspiciously looking offside team-mate who had all the time in the world to curl in a delightful opener. The lead was soon doubled as Aberford broke clear of the Amaranth defence and as O’Brien came out to narrow the angle the ball was slipped unselfishly to a supporting forward to tap into an empty net.

The ‘home’ side were dealt a further blow when a bang on his weakened shoulder left midfield maestro Heaton feeling unwell. Unable to continue, he was replaced by Jinks, slotting into an unfamiliar midfield role.

Pugh had strong claims for a penalty turned down when being clambered all over by a retreating defender as he raced in on goal, but his commendable honesty in staying on his feet ultimately meant the otherwise excellent official failed to point to the spot, when if he’d gone down the decision would probably have been different.

HT Aberford 2 Amaranth Manstonians 3

The men in purple showed their intent early on in the second half and were soon back in the game when marauding full-back Pearce did fantastically well to win an aerial duel and as the ball landed in the Aberford box, panic ensued with a defender easing the ball away from the advancing keeper and gifting an opportunity to the lurking Mannion who wasn’t about to pass on the opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet.

The comeback was complete shortly after when Mannion this time turned provider, heading round the corner for Pugh, who had gained a second wind after struggling at the end of the first half. Sprinting clear and leaving the away opposition defence in his wake, he made minimum fuss of dispatching the ball into the bottom corner past the on-rushing keeper.

The equaliser seemed to shake Aberford out of their slumber and a spell of sustained pressure saw them score what ultimately turned out to be the winner. A poor throw in from Amaranth inside their own half went to the opposition who quickly moved the ball forward to the edge of the penalty area before an unstoppable strike was dispatched into the top left corner, ricocheting off the stanchion and giving the appearance from one side of the ground that the ball hadn’t crossed the line. The referee, however, was not to be fooled and correctly awarded a goal.

Amaranth ended the game strongly as they pushed for a late equaliser but fell short as a series of opportunities to snatch a point were spurned. First Jinks’ fifty pence head directed the ball the wrong side of the up-right after Wood had headed back across Cooper’s right wing corner and then another superb delivery from Cooper who was having a composed, tidy game in the middle was headed high, wide and not very handsome by the unmarked Mannion who had more time than he realised.

Men of the match: Cooper and Sleightholm – composure and graft complimenting a strong midfield showing from the pair.

Team: O'Brien; Stephenson, Milsted, Wood; Pearce, Heaton (Jinks), Slightholm, Cooper, Gabbidon; Mannion, Pugh

Votes: Daz 3, Spider 3, Deano 2, Tim 2, Andy 2, Rob 1, Tony 1, Pughy 1

Goals: Andy Mannion, David Pugh
Assists: Rob Pearce, Andy Mannion

Cheers,

Rick Bentley