Yorkshire Amateur managed to rise nine points clear of the NCEL Division One drop zone, a two-goal first-half advantage seen out as they beat Nostell Miners Welfare 2-1 on Wednesday evening.
Rio Korbel’s double took advantage of Ammers’ strong start to put the hosts two up at The Southern Stadium by half-time, Harley Blankley’s direct free-kick just three minutes after the restart not enough to earn the visitors anything.
Marcel Chigumira returned to the forefront of selection, joined by Ethan Kachosa, Craig Maynard and Jake Boyd as the four changes from Saturday’s victory over Ollerton Town.
Nostell had Ammers retreated in their own box within the opening minutes, so much so Ammers midfielder Oscar Hines had to head clear the cross from the right, delivered with pace and helped on it’s way across the box and out on the opposite side.
Visiting left full-back Thomas Lavin could shoot from his advanced position, 25-yards out, across the turf and the face of Viles’ goal and wide.
Ammers were able to slow the tempo down on 15 minutes, the ball beginning with Diallo on the right and ending at Korbel who’d ventured wide left. His back pass was wayward but Boyd was the spare man in midfield to restart the move, the hosts couldn’t break down the two lines in front of them.
Frimpong made it a greater numerical advantage in the middle, either of him or Boyd could have collected the loose ball in the middle of Nostell’s half. Kachosa’s in support, fouled on his way round his marker but advantage was played through Chigumira down the right. He eventually worked space to cross but it was rebounded out for a throw.
Following a resulting throw, Ammers have an overload wide left with Boyd joining Kachosa and Diallo. When Nostell clear, they’re three on three but Maynard is first to the ball to put out for a throw on the half-way line. It’s how the game threatened to continue given both shapes.
Continuing the trend, Nostell passed the ball quickly to reach the edge of Ammers’ box, beginning amongst the two Charlotte brothers, Harley Blankley also involved briefly among possibly others, finishing again at Alfie Charlotte who failed to move Jack Viles with his effort.
Ammers’ sustained pressure, entering the final five minutes of the half, led to two Rio Korbel goals. Chigumira consistently looked to go around the outside of the two banks of four defending for Nostell and his speed is misjudged by a late tackle down the left. The set-piece is went straight to George Bason but upon parrying, Korbel challenged and diverted the ball into goal.
His second took advantage of the extra personnel in the middle of the park, time on the edge of the box to shift the ball onto his right-foot and aim for the bottom, right-hand corner, deflected in.
Nostell responded in the second-half by plugging the gaps which were left open in the first-half.
Their reward came just three minutes after the break with Harley Blankley’s direct free-kick. With what appeared too close to goal, Blankley was able to lift the ball up and down, whilst curling the ball away from Viles’ reach, inside the left-hand post.
Nicholas Lalouisis was free in the middle, accompanied after the break now by two central partners rather than one. He continued the ball out to the left and Lavin who’s cross into the box was too high for the header, high over the bar.
Now matched up man for man in the middle, Ammers were forced to increase the tempo of the game but Kachosa was happy to oblige, attacking the right flank all the way to the byline and crossing to the far post where Chigumira met the flight of the ball, slightly awkwardly, heading into the ground which held the ball up on its way to goal.
On Ammers regaining possession, substitute Sidibe looked to immediately set fellow inductee Amari Smith down the left but the latter was beaten in the race, with the ball cleared for a throw.
Through the improved pace, Wilfred Frimpong took a leading role, receiving the ball from the left and allowing it to roll across his body before shooting, the post denying what would surely have sealed the victory with just a sole minute remaining of normal time.
The consistency of possession within Nostell’s half throughout extra time confirmed Ammers’ victory come the full-time whistle, moving them nine points clear of relegation ahead of their final four fixtures.
Ammers’ only remaining away fixture follows, a trip to already relegated side Swallownest on Saturday, 30th March, 3pm kick-off.