Ponteland: 0, FC Amble: 3
NMSL U10s Prem Division (25/03/12)
The young seasiders travelled to Bullocksteads for an encounter with the current league leaders on a lovely spring morning, and shocked the league leaders with an awesome second half display.
Amble kicked off and were on the back foot from the start, with Ponteland passing the ball well, on a good playing surface. Although they pressured the goal, Amble played on the counter and D. Handyside just looped the ball over with an improvised scissor kick. Shortly afterwards, D. Armstrong had his shot well saved by the home keeper when he broke through. From this point, the game turned into the Thomas Hall show with the Amble keeper proving unbeatable when Ponteland threw everything at him. He firstly saved with his legs from a free kick, which found its way through a packed penalty area, and followed this up shortly afterwards with an unbelievable double save, which had supporters from both teams applauding and flabbergasted at the cobra-like speed of the young keeper. Not happy with this, Ponteland were awarded a penalty, and the striker put the ball in the corner of the goal only to see Hall push it around the post at full stretch. Amble continued to defend for their lives with B Handyside, R Paton and K Goodwin all putting in determined shifts to ensure they went in to halftime all square at 0-0, with good support from the midfield of J Ford, D Armstrong, D Handyside and M Kerr.
Amble took the interval to compose themselves and take instruction, and came out like a different team after the break. They pushed and managed to take the lead on 31 minutes, when D. Handyside played the ball to D. Ramshaw who picked his spot in the far corner of the goal to leave the keeper with no chance (0-1).
They again went close from another corner when the ball was cleared out to D. Armstrong, who steadied himself before shooting just wide at long range. The hosts at this time were under pressure and only had the odd break, but found themselves 2-0 down when J. Ford fired in a corner, which was met by the onrushing K. Goodwin, who lost his man and swept the ball in to the back of the net. Ponteland had no answer to the power and pace of Amble at this time, and were unable to get close as the seasiders were contesting every ball and not allowing them to settle. Amble soon extended their lead with a well worked goal, which saw D. Armstrong set D. Ramshaw away down the line. Ramshaw looked up and picked out a great pass for D. Handyside to hammer home for a well deserved third (0-3). Amble then got themselves into good shape and saw the remainder of the game out with Ponteland unable to break them down.
Amble owe this win to a fantastic display from keeper T. Hall, who made sure they went in level at half time, but it was a powerful second half display of the highest standard that the league leaders were unable to compete with when Amble took total control and put away their chances .
Spurreli’s man of the match: T. Hall
