Whilst still above the drop, four points remains the price for Ammers to secure NCEL Division One survival, penned back to a 2-1 defeat by Swallownest at Swall-Siro on Saturday afternoon.
Ammers’ brief slip-up, literally, in Kadeem Morton loosing his footing, allowed James Hardeman to double the hosts’ lead following Alex Wonham’s opener via a close-range volley.
Freddie Swales restored some hope with his header following a corner.
Both sides finished with ten-men, Hardeman and Wilfred Frimpong dismissed.
Glasshoughton failed to recover any points in their respective fixture against Retford FC either, retaining the nine-point gap between themselves and Ammers with four fixtures remaining.
Ousainey Juwara was only the second change, alongside Swales, to the winning side of midweek, a straight swap for Marcel Chigumira. Monroe Sternberg was added to the bench, also.
There was a late change to the starters, however, Wilfred Frimpong replaced by Ousmane Sidibe from the reflection of the warm-up.
The plan was tore up inside 7 minutes when Swallownest’s Alex Wonham guided his volley into the far post. Ammers’ loose ball on the left was intercepted, handing Swallownest a man advantage to help maintain possession. There’s further support deep for a cut back 25-yards out which led to the cross across which found Wonham needing just a side-footed finish in front of Jack Viles.
Ash McEwan occupied a similar position in front of Ammers’ defence and was able to place a dipping effort on target, only dropping so far as the roof of the crossbar.
Sidibe was free centrally and quickly looked to put Juwara in-behind. He’s positioned on the last defender who won the duel by sticking out a leg to clear.
Callum Rudd was a step ahead of Juwara to shield the ball into his ‘keeper but Diallo took command of the next phase, attacking the left channel of the box, denied a route to goal and rather his blocked cross won a corner.
Korbel, Swales & Hines’ narrow formation, centrally, creating a shooting opportunity for the latter 25-yards out. As quickly as it’s taken, in two touches, it’s gathered by Tom Kirkland, hit hard but straight at the ‘keeper.
Swales’ back-post header from a corner from the right targeted the bottom corner but Kirkland met it on the ground to keep Ammers behind at the break.
Fin Wade replacing the injured Rio Korbel initially tested the hosts’ pace, Birama Diallo ? on the opposite side, in a race with Kirkland
It was almost de-ja-vu when a deep cross landed at Brandon Hooley, volleying at the far post but on the stretch, making it difficult to connect cleanly.
Morton’s mistake opened up the room for James Hardeman to double Swallownest’s lead. Defending inside his own box, Morton’s loss of footing quickly led to Hardeman firing in first-time past the helpless Viles
Diallo went close to recovering some of the deficit, cut inside and shooting right-footed from distance, only a corner coming from the effort.
Freddie Swales made it count with his header on 60 minutes to half the deficit on his first selection after several weeks of absence. The corner from the right met the highest-riser in Freddie Swales, central inside the box, the power of the header forcing the ball over the line from within a huddle trying to deny it.
Diallo’s feet have proven to find space against a low block and history repeated it self as we entered the final 20 minutes, at first attacking the byline then shifting his focus the opposite direction. He finds the passing lane back to Amari Smith on the edge of the box who’s first touch was correct to set up the shot, dragged across the grass and wide of the near post.
Wilfred Frimpong seized the opportunity in the same area but when it came to releasing the ball, the attempted delivery into the box was blocked.
Ammers needed a reaction as severe as James Hardeman’s to an earlier challenge, his apparent kick-out earning a straight red, Ammers now leading in bodies.
The visitors were capitalising on the numerical advantage, able to find their pass easier and applying pressure to their hosts via the wide routes, Frimpong & Diallo running the show at this point. Frimpong cut inside from the left but was kept at a distance, his shot not struck with enough power to test Kirland.
Diallo too had his attempts before Frimpong again tried from range but this time slicing the ball on the outside of his right boot, high and away from the far post.
Threatening little since losing their number eleven, Swallownest arguably had the best chance since that moment, in added-time. A low cross from the left, across the face of goal, Viles getting his angles right to read the moment striker met ball, smothering the space to block the shot.
Frimpong’s sending-off made the full-time whistle even more impactful, confirming Ammers’ run-in on their search for safety, as well as needing four points, will be without a leading goal threat within the side.
One point would be enough to seal safety on Wednesday when Horbury Town visit The Southerns Stadium, should Glasshoughton be beaten in their respective game on Tuesday.