Division 3 Balcarres Home

This game started very brightly for both teams who had goalscoring chances and the breakthrough came on the half hour mark when Mark Liptrott hit a thirty yard thunderbolt past Amberswood keeper Scott Fields.

The first half was controlled well by Mark Liptrott and Lee Schofield who cut out everything down the centre, but as the half was coming to a close Amberswood started to attack down the flanks and when John Warburton was fouled near the touchline about twenty five yards from goal, Amberswood scored the equaliser. The free kick was taken by Dean Ainscough who hit a cross-shot straight into the top far corner of the net.

At half time it was all square and Balcarres made a significant change as Lee Schofield never came back for the second half. Amberswood started to get a firm grip on the game with Dean Ainscough in midfield and Saddegh Ramazani, John Warburton and Carl Stocks putting the Balcarres back four under some serious pressure.

Amberswood took the lead with a mesmirising display of skill from Payam Doustani, as Amberswood attacked with a lot of bodies in the Balcarres half and the Balcarres penalty box packed, Payam Doustani had the ball on the left side on the edge of the box and scored with the most majestic of lobs.

As Payam Doustani got more confident, Balcarres seemed to drop deeper and deeper into their own half, Carl Stocks had a couple of golden opportunities as did John Warburton, Saddegh Ramazani was also guilty of missing chances, but that did not matter as Payam Doustani danced around three or four Balcarres defenders before taking the ball round the keeper and making it three goals to one.

Amberswood manager thought they had a comfortable lead and made a couple of substitutions and then centreback Michael Owen picked up an ankle injury and had to come off. With only attacking players left on the bench Amberswood were forced to play an attacking player as a full back which caused them problems.

Balcarres came forward and attacked Amberswood as they realised the achhilles heel and as they attacked the stand-in full back Carl Stocks, he was forced to give them a penalty with only a couple of minutes to go.

Mark Liptrott stepped up to take the penalty and scored his second goal of the game. Amberswood with a slender lead decided to defend to the hilt with a four five one formation and hold out for the three two victory, which they did.

Amberswood Man Of The Match:Payam Doustani.