Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Handsworth Parramore 1-0 Maltby Main
- Jon Froggatt strikes the 77th minute winner for Handsworth in a tight encounter.
- Maltby matched the hosts for most of the game and were unlucky to leave with nothing.
- Handsworth lost goalkeeper Aaron Jameson to injury early on. Anthony Wilson made his debut for Parramore and was influential in Froggatt’s goal.
- Maltby should have been awarded a penalty during the first half after Ryan Carroll was fouled.
- Parramore interim boss Mick Godber praises his side for grinding the result out.
- Maltby Main joint manager Spencer Fearn says he is proud of his and Mark Askwith’s team after their five-match winning run ends.
Jon Froggatt struck the late winner for Handsworth Parramore in the 1-0 win over Maltby Main
It is often said that the champions of any league are normally notorious for scoring late goals and the Premier Division title contenders, Tadcaster, Cleethorpes, Worksop and Handsworth are certainly getting their fair share recently.
Sandy Lane is becoming accustomed to dramatic finishes. Worksop did Retford over in midweek with late goals and Handsworth have now nicked three points at the death in their last two fixtures. Alex Rippon was the hero for Parramore two weeks ago against Pontefract and he was involved again for the latest late winner. It was Jon Froggatt who provided the killer touch this week though.
Handsworth’s victory was harsh on in-form Maltby, whose five-match winning run ended. Maltby did their joint managers Mark Askwith and Spencer Fearn proud and the performance under-lines the progress that Main have made under the pair in less than a year in charge.
Apart from a slow start, Maltby matched Handsworth, who were finally able to give new signing Anthony Wilson his long-awaited debut. Wilson looked lively in the opening exchanges as Parramore took the game to Maltby, who had goalkeeper Jamie Bailey, one of the most under-stated stopper in the NCEL, for keeping it goal-less – the stop from Froggatt’s close range shot being the pick of them.
Maltby eventually began to apply pressure on their hosts. Live-wire strikers Lewis Benrose and Ryan Carroll, a Handsworth academy graduate, gave Parramore’s defence a number of head-aches. Throughout the 90 minutes, Maltby also had Nicky Darker’s long throw as a key weapon.
Home goalkeeper Aaron Jameson, playing as Archie Sneath was unavailable, appeared jittery too, but this turned out to because of an injury which forced their number two stopper David Ratcliffe into the fray.
Ratcliffe was extremely lucky to avoid conceding a penalty within a few minutes of arriving on the field. From one of Darker’s long throws, Ratcliffe clearly flew through the back of Carroll, a definite penalty, but referee Adam Burgess vigorously waved away the appeals. Burgess then ludicrously removed Maltby coach John Stancliffe from the dugout for next to nothing – a decision that appeared to be more for the benefit of the referee’s assessor.
The visitors caused further problems for Handsworth close to half-time as Sam Forster hit the crossbar with a fine volley from 12 yards.
Anthony Wilson made his debut for Handsworth and played a key role in the winner
David Ratcliffe (right) had to come on for injured Handsworth goalkeeper Aaron Jameson
Ratcliffe won this battle with Maltby’s Handsworth academy graduate Ryan Carroll, but earlier he escaped without conceding a penalty after flying through the back of the striker
Referee Adam Burgess removed Maltby coach John Stancliffe from the dugout
Maltby Main midfielder Lee Hill played against his old club
Maltby striker Lewis Benrose attempts to pull away
The second half was much more tighter and neither side created much for a long period.
Maltby held their own without being troubled until the last 20 minutes when they began to tire, enabling Handsworth to start taking a bit of control over affairs. Rippon almost scored within a minute of replacing Danny Buttle with his first touch. Former Shaw Lane Bailey rescued Maltby again in that situation.
Handsworth were getting strong and Mick Godber’s men broke Maltby’s resistance after arguably stretching Maltby’s defence for the only time in the second half. Rippon, Froggatt and Wilson were the key men in the almost sweeping move.
Wilson, signed from Gainsborough Trinity recently, showed his quality by using speed and power to move from a wide area into a central position. After neat one-two with Froggatt, Wilson slid the ball into the box for the on-rushing Rippon, but Bailey got down well to deny the substitute. The ball ran loose and former Belper striker Froggatt raced onto and smashed home.
As Godber said in his interview, Parramore “professionally” saw it out. The best chance for Maltby to equalise fell right at the death. Josh Nodder’s drilled shot was possibly sneaking inside the near post, but Simon Harrison stuck a leg out to send the ball out for a corner, ensuring three more vital points for Handsworth.
Handsworth Parramore interim manager Mick Godber:
Maltby Main joint manager Spencer Fearn:
Handsworth Parramore: Jameson (Ratcliffe 19), Starosta, Eades, Fletcher, Griffiths, Adams (captain), Harrison, Warne, Froggatt, Wilson (Marrison 80), Buttle (Rippon 70). Subs unused: Joynes, Denton.
Maltby Main: Bailey, Swales, Hibbert, Davies (Hemmingway HT), Austin, Hill, Forster (Nodder 59), Darker, Carroll, Benrose (Hopewell 77), Rigby. Subs unused: White, Gibson.
Referee: Adam Burgess (South Yorkshire)
Ref Rating: 5/10
Man of the match: Jamie Bailey (Maltby Main)