Richard Mintoff celebrates after somehow equalising for Clipstone in their 2-1 win at Yorkshire Amateur – a goal which infuriated Ammers joint boss Phil Harding
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Words and pictures by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)
Deflated Yorkshire Amateur joint manager Phil Harding rued two pieces of sloppy defending which consigned his side to a 2-1 defeat to Clipstone at Bracken Edge last night.
His new centre-half Jamie Hainsworth headed the Ammers in front in the Toolstation NCEL Division One encounter, but a Richard Mintoff goal ensured the visitors were level at half-time.
Ammers then didn’t turn up for the start of the second half and paid the price as Stuart Hill scored the winning goal for Clipstone.
The home side responded really well and the Clipstone defence had to survive a barrage of sustained pressure.
Ultimately the Ammers couldn’t force a goal past the excellent goalkeeper Nick Siddons – much to Harding’s disappointment.
“We should have got a draw at least,” Harding told Non League Yorkshire.
“We made a very good start and then we let in one of the poorest goals you’ll ever see in your life.
“The ball was curled in from a corner and it went past everyone including the man on the post and the ‘keeper.
“Straight in from a corner, how does that happen?
“The second goal was poor defending again. A free kick aimed at the far post and the guy has got on the wrong side and scored with a looping header.
“The response was really good. We had a few chances, but it wasn’t dropping for us in the box.”
New Yorkshire Amateur defender Jamie Hainsworth had given his side the lead in the 18th minute
The Ammers were hoping to build on the excellent point they gained at Bottesford Town on the opening day and Harding’s men enjoyed a tremendous start.
Tall defender Hainsworth rose superbly to score with a bullet header inside the first 18 minutes so hopes of a first win of the campaign were high.
But, despite some good moves, Ammers couldn’t double their lead and Clipstone soon equalised. Mintoff got the slightest of touches from a corner and the ball somehow trickled over-the-line.
The biggest threat for Clipstone during the first half was Hainsworth. The visitors’ defence failed to deal with the former Selby Town centre-half during two further corners.
He headed the ball wide in the first and then another bullet header was belted off-the-line.
Yorkshire Amateur’s Carl Heard holds off his Clipstone marker
Unfortunately, the Ammers failed to start well after half-time and for the opening 15 minutes it was one-way-traffic in Clipstone’s favour.
Poor marking allowed Hill to score with a long range header from Ryan Hindley’s free kick from the halfway line.
Clipstone then narrowly missed out on going up 3-1 when Dan Wood could not connect with a cross which would have given him a tap-in.
The introduction of Dempsey Smith saw Ammers take the game back to Clipstone. The former Garforth Town striker wasted one opportunity as he bore on Siddons.
The away goalkeeper really then started earning his corn with a string of fabulous saves. He stopped two seemingly goal-bound strikes from predatory forward Craig Heard and another attempt from Smith.
Ammers’ best chance fell to youngster Harrison Blakey. Heard’s clever footwork down the right-wing opened up the opportunity and he passed for the midfielder who was almost on the penalty spot.
The chance went begging though as Blakey blazed the ball out of the ground.
That was the final opportunity of an excellent match – which Clipstone boss Chris Millington felt his side shaded.
“I think we deserved it,” Millington said.
“We went 1-0 down and showed great character to win the game.
“I think we could have looked after the ball a bit better in the second half and taken the sting out of the game.
“But, I think our defensive performance was good in terms of when the ball was in our box, we were throwing five or six bodies at shots.”
Yorkshire Amateur: Bojang, Hammond (Smith 65), S Harding, C Harding (Ellis 81), Freeman, Hainsworth, Marsden, Blakey, Bernard, Craig Heard, Carl Heard (Blair 89). Subs unused: Noteman, Hill.
Clipstone: Siddons, Carnall, Mawbey, Rawson, Mintoff, Hill, Ord, Carty, Smith, Wood, Hindley (Austin 75). Subs unused: D White, Millington, Owen, R White.
Referee: Colin Unwin
Ref Rating: 5/10
Attendance: 52
Man of the match: Nick Siddons (Clipstone)