Ammies 2 - 1 Abbey Hulton United

The Ammies are becoming specialists in not only winning late but also showing huge character to get those wins, 2 second half goals from the prolific Henderson enough to get us the 3 points.

Sunny? Tick. No wind? Tick. A perfect day for football awaited the Ammies but knowing our recent performances have been far from perfect, a chance to claim another 3 points at home was there for the taking. Frantic starts have been commonplace while playing the top of the league but against Abbey Hulton United, we were more disciplined and considered in the opening exchanges. A switch to 3 at the back gave us more options on the wings and the workrate and desire of the whole team was there to see. Eddie Brown, a thorn in the side of Abbey Hulton all game, got free down the left side but the ball he chased was collected well by the Abbey Hulton keeper. After some lovely play on the right, Saul Henderson unleashed a 35-yard shot that was well struck but bobbled wide of the right post. Those early sighters had the Ammies in the mood and they kept pouring forward, one attack being punished by an Abbey Hulton counter that Soloman Wickstead dealt with, managing and dispossessing the opposition striker superbly. All action Brown then stopped another Abbey Hulton counter with a sliding tackle out the top drawer, taking the ball cleanly and starting another attack. This early back and forth was measured and controlled by both teams, the focus being on controlling the midfield and not giving away too much possession, our usual frantic start a thing of the past.

In the 35th minute, Abbey Hulton won a freekick in our half that was delivered in well but cleared out to an Abbey Hulton player. He got his shot away and across Haslam in goal but was sent just wide, a warning that the opposition could still hurt us. At the other end, Henderson does what he does best and shrugged off the challenge of the defender before unleashing a howitzer of a shot, heading for the right post but curling just wide to go out for a goal kick, the Ammies reminding the opposition they had defending to do. Half time arrived with the score at 0-0 and the Ammies had the fair share of the possession and the control but needed to up their intensity in the 2nd half.

Both teams came out looking hungry and wanting to go for the win, a great match was being set up for the watching fans, but it was the home team who got their noses in front first. Brown was always in space and looking for opportunities as he got forward, the ball finding him as he progressed into the box. He started to get away from the defender who decided to upend Brown in the area, causing the ground to erupt in the shout of a penalty that the referee took a long look at. He felt he had seen enough, even after discussing with the linesman and the Abbey Hulton United players, and awarded the spot kick. Up stepped Henderson, placing the ball and striking it past the diving keeper with utmost confidence. 1-0 up and 50 minutes gone, so far so good. 5 minutes later, Kyle Hawley was replaced by Sam Dickov and he got straight in to the action, looking busy and getting into the defenders to force them to play back. The Ammies reminded the opposition they were still in the game, winning a free kick that was taken by Henderson, hit well but only winning a corner after hitting the wall. Thie Ammies also showed the work done on the defence; Richard Gresty nonchalantly heading a high ball back to Haslam with a header before a double shot was stopped well by Erion Bujupi before being safely gathered by Haslam. Even the forwards were getting in on the act, Dickov seeing a pass rebound into the path of the opposition before he hunted him down to stop the attack, the desire to win was evident. As the 77th minute began, Abbey Hulton managed to break the defence with a cross into the middle meeting the strikers head to finish past the diving Haslam. 1-1 with 13 minutes to go, we had been here before. But the Ammies weren’t finished.

Bujupi was replaced by Dylan Walker and the Ammies were pushing forward, looking for opportunities to create chances, a chance to break stopped by a foul and a yellow card for the Abbey Hulton number 8. Midfield control was evident but the chance to take a shot wasn’t coming, the opposition defence stopping us from getting into dangerous areas. Henderson was booked for throwing the ball away in frustration, the crowd sharing his emotions as we saw a game we should have won turn in to a draw. The Ammies kept coming forward, probing the defence for chances but Abbey Hulton were working hard to deny us. After a rare opposition attack gave us a goal kick, Haslam delivered deep into midfield where the ball was worked to Brown. He sent a perfect ball over the midfield where Walker saw his opportunity, covering ground brilliantly on the right before putting a cross to the back post. There was only 1 man to claim the header as Henderson leapt highest to flick a header past the keeper at his near post. The ground went ballistic as we celebrated another likely win, with sighs of relief just as loud as the cheering. The full-time whistle was blown and Gresty in the centre circle let out a guttural roar of approval, his celebrations echoing the crowd’s relief at getting another win.

We did it the hard way yet again, but the 3 points were claimed against a spirited opposition. Saul Henderson deservedly got the Man of The Match award, sponsored by the match and ball sponsor Jason Donnelly, and the Ammies now turn their attention to the Lancashire Challenge Trophy on Wednesday against FC Darwen.

To see pictures from the game, click HERE