Tom Rose congratulates Craig Heard after the striker scored Yorkshire Amateur’s first goal
Yorkshire Amateur needed their groundsman Simon Charlesworth to go in goal during the 4-2 victory over Winterton Rangers at a wet Bracken Edge.
The scores were tied at 1-1 when star goalkeeper Suruwa Bojang’s went down injured, causing an eleven minute delay in the Toolstation NCEL Division One clash.
An ambulance arrived for Bojang so Charlesworth, who does make the occasional outfield appearance for the Ammers, went in goal for the first time at semi-professional level.
The Ammers didn’t need to panic either as they the struck twice in brutal fashion before half-time to give themselves a solid lead.
Charlesworth was only beaten by a James Rothel own goal late-on and after a few nervy minutes, Jahsiah Donaldson sealed the victory for the Ammers.
Winterton will look back and rue not punishing a sluggish Ammers side in the opening half-hour as the home side looked like a side that had not played for two weeks.
The experienced Craig Palmer had Winterton’s best chance – an opportunity that Bojang was equal to.
The Heard brothers produced the goods for the home side’s opener. Carl Heard’s superbly weighted cross enabled his sibling Craig to smash home from close range on 21 minutes.
Winterton hit back straightaway through Palmer and almost took the lead when Josh Batty struck the post.
Batty also lost the battle of wits with Bojang in another chance – much to Lee Hasting’s frustration.
The injury to Bojang took the sting out of the game, but it was the home side who remained focussed during the delay.
Within a couple of minutes of the restart, Tom Rose capitalised on the visitors switching off to score with a drilled finish.
His midfield partner Harrison Blakey then did the same to ensure the Ammers had a comfortable lead to protect going into the second half.
Winterton chief Lee Hastings described his side’s display as disappointing
Action from Yorkshire Amateur 4-2 Winterton Rangers
Action from Yorkshire Amateur 4-2 Winterton Rangers
Yorkshire Amateur goalkeeper Suruwa Bojang gave a man of the match display with a broken arm earlier this season
Action from Yorkshire Amateur 4-2 Winterton Rangers
Action from Yorkshire Amateur 4-2 Winterton Rangers
James Rothel’s late own goal put the Ammers into a dangerous position
The Non League Yorkshire advertising is up at Bracken Edge
For a lot of the final 45 minutes, the Ammers ensured their rookie goalkeeper was protected.
There was the odd moment, but for someone who has only played between the sticks on the odd occasion over the years on a Sunday morning in Leeds, Charlesworth did really well when called upon.
He made a few saves – including a top one from debutant Kingsley Wetherald’s audacious, but goal-bound chip.
The Ammers’ position was only put in jeopardy late-on when Rothel turned a cross into his own net.
Even then Winterton failed to really hurt their hosts and the Ammers soon breathed a sigh of relief after Donaldson scored a wonder goal.
The skilful attacker picked up the ball on the right-wing on the halfway line. He raced forward by dancing past several defenders before slotting a low and controlled finish past the visiting goalkeeper.
Yorkshire Amateur joint manager Rick Addy: “The lads have done alright.
“We haven’t played for two weeks and we haven’t trained for two weeks so you could see that there were some cobwebs to get rid of.
“We always have that firepower to score us goals and that’s what is pulling us through.
“You can’t complain really because of the conditions, the goalkeeper situation and the fact we haven’t played or trained for two weeks.”
On Bojang’s injury: “He’s gone to hospital.
“His knee locked in the last game, but he said alright for today. It looks like ligaments.”
Winterton Rangers manager Lee Hastings: “I’m really disappointed.
“In the time I have been here at Winterton, that’s certainly the most disappointed I have felt.
“It simply wasn’t good enough because that game should have been dead and buried to us in the first half. We had enough opportunities to kill the game.
“Then in the second half we didn’t test the goalkeeper properly. We discussed it at half-time and the lads didn’t follow the orders which is disappointing.
“It is a missed opportunity for us.”
Yorkshire Amateur: Bojang (S Charlesworth 44), Wadsworth (Hammond 79), Rothel, Rose, Hitchings, Thompson (Donaldson 75), Carl Heard, Blakey, Hughes, Craig Heard, Shaw. Sub unused: J Charlesworth.
Winterton Rangers: Tomlinson, Coulbeck (captain), Abel, Gemmell, McDonagh, Wheeldon, Batty (Hornsby 65), Shortland, Palmer (Wetherald 65), Nimmo, Start. Subs unused: Larder, Earl, Watson.
Referee: Jack Hall
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 30
Man of the match: Tom Rose (Yorkshire Amateur)