Athersley Recreation 3 - 0 Yorkshire Amateur: Rec calm the storm with victory over Ammers

Sam Thompson’s double, supported by James Woodhouse’s solo strike calmed the storm for Rec to come out 3-0 victors against Yorkshire Amateur in harsh wind and rain on Saturday afternoon in the NCEL Division One.

Words By Ben Swain

Heavy gusts at Sheerien Park threatened to ruin the quality going off the early evidence but converted centre-half Nathan Perks could find Sam Thompson to open the scoring inside fifteen minutes.

Thompson’s second, a chip matching the quality of the through-ball, was compounded by James Woodhouse’s impressive effort from a tight angle, both scored in deteriorating weather after the break.

The win makes it four points from a possible six most recently for Rec.

The ball was under control of the high winds in the opening ten minutes, both sides’ long-balls being intercepted mid-flight by the weather, taking it out of touch.

That was until Nathan Perks’ flighted ball  finished at Sam Thompson, back-to-front, for the opener. Thompson kept the ball on the ground when firing past the left of Fabio Intumbo in Ammers’ goal.

There was no moving Noel Nfonkev’s direct free-kick off-target until Levi Owen tipped over, denying the effort from 25-yards which was hit with enough power not to alter it’s direction on it’s trajectory.

Durkin was positioned deeper than the intentional target of an aeriel ball down the right, perfect to pick up the second ball and manipulate a pathway through the centre. As he cut inside from the right, Thompson took over and looked to clip a ball into a similar area, he scored but the effort curled away from goal.

The same wide-player initiated the next promising move, opting for the outside route which almost caught out two of Ammers’ centre-halves sliding towards their own goal and rebounding the ball off one another, the loose ball rolling into the shooting lane of a Rec player entering the box but he’s beat to it narrowly by a clearance.

Both sides from then on directed their focus to ground balls, Ammers able to keep it moving forward until Oliver Busfield looked to be in at goal on twenty-six minutes. It’s Charlie Auty’s responsibility on the right-hand side of central defender Nathan Perks and he recovers on the slide to clear wide.

Rec’s right-hand side, occupied with pace, led by Carter Tingle and supported behind by Durkin, consistently got behind Ammers’ left-side of defence, early crosses aiming to give Thompson another chance to exploit the space central also without success.

There’s once more a route to goal infield for Durkin just minutes before the break. Forced across the box, it led to a shot on his weaker side, straight at Intumbo.

Rec’s shape deep in their own half tempted Ben Brook from distance, advanced from left-back, plenty of space between himself and goal to watch the ball continue to rise as it passed over Owen in goal.

Woodhouse provides transition options from the opposite side, a strong touch taking him round Brandan Hughes-Millar and into the opposition half but there’s cover to slow down his progression. The cross did enter the box but target Thompson was again beat to the delivery before the half-time whistle.

Conditions worsened in the second-half, rain now travelling at pace amongst the wind.

It was epitomised by Ali Tunkara’s wayward pass within minutes, hindered by the already moving ball even whilst still on the turf before the centre-half’s unsuccessful attempted long-pass.

Ammers were unable to remove the ball out their own half in the lead-up to Rec’s second, read by Woodhouse and finished by Thompson. Woodhouse picked up possession on the half-way line, again with space to run into, Thompson angling his run so to meet the through ball on his right-foot, with an open body allowing him to spot the ‘keeper going to ground and lifting the ball over him.

Woodhouse looked to have been assisted by the wind in a strike which only he’ll argue he meant. In his defence, it’s his stronger left-foot which has meant he’s been able to hit an in-swinging effort over Intumbo and into the far-side of goal.

Mo Ceesay couldn’t hit the target on either occasion to retaliate, having freed himself beyond Rec’s defensive line. Both times came cover which forced him wide down the right-hand channel of Rec’s box, the first opportunity hit wide and the second, ushered back to deeper-lying support from a teammate.

Nfonkev too found a way over the challenges to attack from a wider base, claiming a free-kick from a tight angle but little more with Rec’s clean-sheet untouched at full-time.

A trip to Brigg Town on the 28th December is an opportunity to extend Rec’s unbeaten run to three in the league.