Cammell Laird 1 - 1 Ammies

The Ammies rescued a late point on Saturday, a 91st minute equaliser from Sam Dickov papering over a performance that was below par.

Merseyside was the stage, but the Ammies took the Manchester weather with them on matchday 20, sleeting rain and windy conditions made the Ammies almost feel at home. The team felt this confidence as early as the 4th minute, Gabriel Mooney-Munoz showing some lovely feet in midfield to skip away from 2 challenges and then deliver a peach of a through ball, Curtis racing to get to it but the opposition keeper getting there first. A strange decision soon followed, a penalty shout went out for a corner but the referee called for a goalkick, even though the defender was clearly the last person to touch the ball, not the only mistake made by the referee and his team on the day. The Ammies pushed on regardless, looking solid at the back and getting forward at every opportunity, Henderson and Curtis looking to chase down defenders to put them under pressure. A deep free kick on the half way line was sent in with a trademark excellent delivery by Peters, not finding an Ammies head but being cleared to Mooney-Munoz, his shot on the turn just over the bar. On 24 minutes, Henderson was the recipient of a heavy tackle, showing discomfort in his lower back. He tried to continue but was forced to come off, Sam Dickov replacing him. As the rain came down in all directions, the first half petered out, both teams looking to get a foothold on the game but scruffy passes and nervy defences dictating the play, a more assured performance needed in the 2nd half.

Both teams emerged with fire in their bellies as the first 5 minutes got heated, tackles were flying in and constant discussions between the referee and the players livened the game up but not the scoreline. In the 56th minute, Cammell Laird changed that, a quick through ball between the defensive lines and their striker was in, finishing well across Kyle Haslam in goal to take the lead. The Ammies responded by getting forward and controlling the midfield, Mooney-Munoz again causing the home team trouble, getting down the right and delivering a lovely ball which was snuffed out just before it arrived at Curtis’s feet. That control was starting to show, the Cammell Laird chances were being managed by our defence and recycled in to midfield but our cutting edge was missing. The home team were getting nervous at constantly losing the ball and allowed some high and wild tackles that earned 3 yellow cards for the home team, the Ammies just had to keep cool and keep playing their game. Chances to get to the edge of the home teams box were coming thick and fast but the final ball just wasn’t there; long balls overhit or the defence stepping out to stop our through balls. In the 88th minute and the game looking to be a loss, Peters got forward and delivered the best ball of the day, across the goal but no one rose highest to get a head on it and went out for a corner. It looked to be another loss in the rain before the Ammies stepped up a gear. 7 passes were finally put together well and we had our goal, lovely interplay in midfield before feeding Mooney-Munoz on the right. He looked up and slid a ball across the edge of the box where the onrushing Dickov arrived to put the ball away, sending the Ammies fans crazy.

The full-time whistle blew just 40 seconds later and the Ammies gained a point rather than lost 3, a poor performance with one moment of magic making the difference. With a good run of lower table teams to come, the Ammies can hopefully get a real foothold in the top 5 and push higher up the table through Christmas and the new year.