Jack Start celebrates his equalising goal for Winterton Rangers in the 1-1 draw with Yorkshire Amateur
Jack Start denied Yorkshire Amateur all three points as his first half equaliser earned Winterton Rangers a 1-1 draw at West Street.
Winterton should have arguably won the game which was the second match of the second day of the NCEL Easter GroundHop weekend as the Leeds-based visitors were hanging on at the end.
The draw in the Toolstation NCEL Division One match means the Ammers still have work to do in their quest to secure an FA Cup place for next season.
The game began with the home side dominating, as Luke Anderson and captain Jake Thompson saw efforts denied by Suwara Bojang.
But it was the tenth-placed visitors who took the lead, as Craig Harding’s attempted over-head kick fell to Joel Hughes who headed home to put the Ammers in front.
Joel Hughes celebrates scoring the opening goal for Yorkshire Amateur
Joel Hughes was back on the score-sheet for the Ammers
Minutes later an over-head kick that was this more better executed almost found its way in, as Jake Thompson tested Bojang again for Winterton, but the Ammers goalkeeper was proving difficult to beat.
Bojang again held firm to deny Winterton after 25 minutes, as Matthew Steeper looked certain to score, only for the Yorkshire Amateur number one to hurl across his goal and make a wonderful save.
With 5fiveminutes left in the first-half, commanding centre back Jack Start took responsibility at the other end of the field, his weak shot just outside the area somehow found a way in and the home side were back level at 1-1.
Action from Winterton Rangers 1-1 Yorkshire Amateur
Yorkshire Amateur goalkeeper Suwara Bojang was again in great form for his side
Action from Winterton Rangers 1-1 Yorkshire Amateur
The Ammers were hanging on at the end as Winterton piled on the pressure
In added time in the first-half, a superb double save from Bojang saw efforts from Luke Anderson and Josh Batty saved, as the score stayed at 1-1 going into the break.
After a slow start to the second-half with very few chances created at either end, the first big chance of the half fell to Anderson, who was inches away with his attempted lob of Bojang.
With ten minutes on the clock Joel Hughes almost scored his second of the night, but at the wrong end! A Winterton corner hit his shin-pad, but Bojang got down quickly enough.
Jack Start saw a header cleared off the line with five minutes remaining, but the talking point of the game came in the dying embers.
Luke Anderson found himself through on goal, but was taken out by T’Nique Fishley. Fishley seemingly conceded a penalty, whilst denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Quite remarkably referee Paul Tomes awarded a free kick and only cautioned the defender – which ensured there was no dramatic winner.
Winterton Rangers manager Darren Waring:
“It’s a good draw against a top-half team while we’ve been fighting a relegation battle all season, now we’re pretty safe and we’re just starting to enjoy our football.
“I don’t think it was a penalty or a red card, it was right on the edge of the box and I think the referee got it right.
“We we’re the better team, they only created one chance, and we dominated the game and created more chances so we could have won the game.
“Having a crowd in here of 300 plus is great, it makes the lads play better and stick their chests out and push on.
“Financially today it’s massive for us as well, it’s great to a good amount of people through the gate and It’s always good to see.”
Yorkshire Amateur head coach Rick Addy:
“I’m disappointed because with the performance we have put in, they have embarrassed themselves, me, Phil (Harding) and the club.
“We expect better. We couldn’t pass the ball. We didn’t work hard enough.
“I don’t know how their goal went in, but it summed up our performance.
“SB in goal saved us again, but from the rest of the players it wasn’t good enough and I’m disappointed because of the performances we have put in like beating Emley and other teams like that.
“Winterton were the better team and they should have won it. They had more chances than us.
“It was great playing in front of a big crowd and that’s why I’m disappointed.
Winterton Rangers: Waring, Coulbeck, Corcoran, Marshall, Start, Thompson, Steeper (Collins 70), McKay, Batty, Anderson, Varley. Subs unused: Dungworth, Wood, Rotherham, Hindson.
Yorkshire Amateur: Bojang, Hammond, Fishley, C. Harding, S. Harding, Freeman, Heard, Blakey (Motley 79), Hughes, Heard, Donaldson (Hill 71).
Referee: Paul Tomes
Ref Rating: 5/10
Attendance: 303
Man of the Match: Suwara Bojang (Yorkshire Amateur)