A minute from time and a man down, Ammers’ defeat was sealed with a second goal in their eventual 2-0 defeat to Selby at The Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium.
Matty Dawes’ first-half strike was consolidated in the 89th-minute by Harry Clapham’s effort from close-range after Omar Gikineh’s two yellow-cards saw him leave two minutes early from the NCEL Division One tie.
Six Ammers changes were led by returning captain Kaydon Fishley joined by Jack Viles between the posts. Goalscoring winger Noel Nfonkev was also introduced alongside Omar Gikineh, Fre Tewolde and Cameron Lyn.
Roy Fogarty tried to find his range early within 3 minutes, spying over his shoulder, Liam Nilson off his line and trying to chip him, not far off by dropping the ball onto the roof of the net.
For all of Ned Dry and Jamie Danby’s promise down Selby’s right, Matty Dawes cuts in from the left and asked Viles to tip round his near post, the following corner going out via the bar.
There’s space in the middle for Selby but Roy Fogarty’s also comfortable holding onto the ball when asked to by the direct route, should Nfonkev or Diallo not be able to chase the ball down either side of the hosts.
Dry moved central to flick on a header for a deep free-kick straight at Viles who immediately looked for Fogarty on the counter but Selby outnumbered the forward and cleared the threat.
Bruce Fernando nicked the ball in the box but it ran away into Nilson’s grasp, the Ammers man well advanced from his right full-back base.
There’s a repeat of the earlier flick-on from a Selby set-piece, a corner from the right nudged to the far post, the second-ball cleared.
Clapham moved onto the opposite flank to allow him to tee-up a right-footed strike by shifting infield, Viles needing a strong connection to push over.
Either of Ammers’ wingers were allowed to receive to feet but when Fogarty was the outlet on 32 minutes, he sent Nfonkev chasing down the visitors’ left with a first-time pass over his shoulder. Nfonkev is able to return the favour with a low cross to the edge of the box and the target-man looked across goal with his left-foot shot, lacking the power to beat Nilson.
Dawes found enough power to squeeze in the opener inside the near post from inside the box. He connected strongly with his side-foot, first-time, receivng from a low cross from the right, the ball squeezed past Viles despite a touch from the ‘keeper.
Ammers & Fishley threatened from a corner of their own, the captain meeting the delivery from the left at the far post and narrowly avoiding the far top corner to remain trailing at the break.
The second-half reverted to familiar style as Selby opened with a cross from the right which was inches ahead of it’s target in the middle and put behind wide of the far post by Morton.
Lyn opened up his own opportunity with a first-touch which removes two defenders down the left-hand channel of Selby’s box. Delaying the shot, the defence has time to recover but twisting again onto his left, the shot finally comes, rising just over the bar.
Soon after Malachi Bailey’s introduction, he reignited Ammers’ threat, twisting infield with his first-touch to face goal before lacing a powerful left-footed effort arrowed at the near post, tipped wide.
Two chances came down Selby’s right, firstly denied by Viles and then the width of the goal. Harrison Rowley poked the ball round Bruce Fernando and lunged at his shot at a tight angle, blocked by the outrushing Viles’ body
The second opportunity was placed more favourable, targeting the far post but rolled wide.
There’s a new-found space for Ammers centrally edging towards the final twenty minutes, Fernando and Diallo enjoying time to either move the ball or themselves respectively, direct at Selby’s backline, the final result; a under strength pass or being outnumbered.
A red card for Ammers strengthened Selby’s grip on the result with two minutes remaining, Gikineh removed. The centre-half chased the Selby forward running after a direct ball, Gikineh the wrong side of his man. Although the forward’s heading away from goal, as he is floored, it’s the Ammers defender’s second bookable offence, yellow turning to red.
The advantage in the scoreline was made more comfortable with a minute of normal time remaining. Harry Clapham smashed in from 6-yards, across goal, from left-to-right.
Ammers can recover on their trip to Maltby Main’s Muglet Lane on Wednesday 4th September in league action.