Or rather, you win none! Another hectic week with no chance to post on the blog so here's what's happened since my last notes.
We've seen three games in the last week, including a look at the Handsworth FC U21 side on Friday evening.
On a cold and blustery Wednesday evening, 23rd September, as the tail end of Storm Agnes passed over Oliver's Mount, Knaresborough were the visitors and they went home with a point in a 1-1 draw.
Knaresborough took the lead inside 20 minutes after a point blank save by their keeper had denied Handsworth a goal. Knaresborough, with the wind at their backs, probably had the better of the first half hour but then had a man sent off. As Tom Bishop burst through and beyond the last man, he was fouled and the ref showed the defender the red card, despite protests from the visitors players.
The resulting free kick from just outside the area came to nothing but just before half time, Handsworth's Alfie Dodsworth scored the equaliser from the penalty spot after overlapping full back Mike Trench was brought down just inside the box.
So, 2nd half and with the wind at their backs, Handsworth fans hoped for a win but credit to Knaresborough, the 10-men saw out the game very well, giving the Ambers little opportunity to take the win.
The referee evened things up as far as number of players on the pitch was concerned when, in added time, he red-carded Handsworth sub Craig Mitchell for what seemed to just about everyone in the ground to be a 50-50 challenge with both players raising a boot in an attempt to control a bouncing ball.
In the end, I guess a draw was probably a fair result but as ever in these situations, more was expected when the Ambers had the man advantage. Ian Robinson's match report describes the action far better than I can so have a read here:
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/handsworthfc/teams/126071/match-centre/1-14094486/report
and my pictures are here:
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/handsworthfc/photos/ambers-11-knaresborough-ncel-prem-1076360.html
Unfortunately, my camera misbehaved again just before kick off so I had to switch to my old camera and lens. Friustrating!
We were back at Oliver's Mount on Friday evening, 29th September, to have a look at the Handsworth U21 side in their North Midlands Development League fixture against Dronfield Town U21. Before the kick-off, the teams paid tribute to Maddy Cusack, a Sheffield Utd Ladies player who sadly passed away a few days before the game at the very young age of 27. RIP Maddy.
My pictures, including the tribute and minute's silence for Maddy are here:
In a game where the two sides basically cancelled each other out, the result was a 0-0 draw and so both teams gained their first point of the season. There was a lot of endeavour on show but neither keeper was tested although both teams worked hard and managed a couple of periods of pass and move football.
The highlight of the evening came when that Sheila won £20 on the football scratch card the team runs to raise funds. She actually won by choosing Sheffield Wednesday on the card. As somebody said, it's about the only thing Wednesday will win all season!
Another bonus was the camera behaved itself, working almost perfectly throughout the game!
So it was on to Saturday 30th September and a trip to Rossington for our next league fixture against a strong Rossington Main team. Promoted last year from Division 1, Rosso have made a strong start to life in the NCEL Premier League so we knew it would be tough.
That turned out to be the case. Rossington ran out 4-1 winners to bring Handsworth's September to a disappointing end. The Ambers had 3 "regulars" missing from the starting line-up but the result meant we slipped from the giddy heights of 2nd in the league table.
Rain for most of the game didn't help matters but Rossington started the stronger and took a 2-0 lead into half time. They added a 3rd goal early in the second half and to be honest, from that point it was essentially game over.
Veteran striker Ross Hannah scored a 4th before Handsworth's Brandon Bagley, who'd worked his socks off all afternoon, brought Handsworth a consolation goal but it was too little, too late as Ian Robinson says in his match report:
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/handsworthfc/teams/126071/match-centre/1-14094502/report
My match album, on is here:
Despite the very wet conditions, the camera behaved itself again!!
It's on to another tough month for The Ambers with games against 3 of the top 6 in October. Fingers crossed for an improvement in results!
COYA🧡🖤⚽👊
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