(Played on May 17)

AMBLE moved a step closer to winning the League 3 crown, and gained promotion, with a crucial victory at high-flying Tynemouth United.

With both teams riding high in the league, the winning team would have the edge to go on and win what has been a very competitive league.
Amble defended against the wind in the first half and United had the first chance – a header that went well over the bar.

From then on, though, it was mostly Amble. Their first chance fell to Max Anderson who made the keeper save well from a shot from the edge of the box. That was to be the first in a series of fine saves from the Tynemouth stopper. Amble's Callum Fenwick won the ball upfront for Amble and his strike on goal went inches wide of the upright.

James Oliver, from full-back, played in a great ball over the defence for Tom Anderson, whose header just went wide.

Andy Flanighan, Amble's other marauding full-back, then played a similar ball over the top for Callum Fenwick to head the ball home, only to be ruled offside.

Nathan Potts, who was superb all night, was played through and with only the keeper to beat the Tynemouth stopper pulled off a good save.

Amble continued to dominate the play and from their next attack they forced a corner, which was taken short between James Oliver and Max Anderson, who then delivered into the box for the powerful Matty Stephenson's header to go just wide.

Fenwick, Imeson and Potts combined on numerous occasions with their little one-twos in and around the box for the home keeper to save time and again.

Tynemouth, though, had a chance but Cameron Roper saved well. Although the Amble keeper made the save seem easy, his presence and magnificent keeping has been crucial to Amble's performances this season.

Oliver next played in Tom Anderson but again the effort was saved. Brad Little, who had a storming game in midfield, hit the post for Amble and the ball rebounded out for James Oliver to whip a cross into Callum Fenwick whose downward header was collected by the keeper.

A good ball into the box from Tynemouth was collected well by Roper with a great jump in the box.

At the other end, Fenwick had another chance when he turned onto his right foot and struck a quick shot, which went just over the bar.

The superb Jason Imeson who was again non-stop in midfield played in Tom Anderson for the last chance of the half, with Anderson firing wide of the net for a 0-0 score at half-time.

With Tynemouth against the wind in the second half, they found their goal-kicks weren't going far and when Nathan Potts again got to the ball first he played in Callum Fenwick.

The striker, faced with a tight angle, hit his shot into the side netting. Fenwick had the next chance with a right-foot shot going just over, then Nathan Potts headed into the path of Tom Anderson whose shot from distance was brilliantly saved by the keeper.

Fenwick looked to have given Amble the lead with a one-on-one with the keeper, but unfortunately he fired just wide of the post.

Yet again the Tynemouth keeper denied Fenwick another chance on goal with a point-blank save on the edge of the six-yard line.
Amble were still piling on the pressure, which resulted in a corner-kick.

James Oliver whipped in another great cross for Nathan Potts. His bullet header from within the six-yard box flew into the net and was enough to seal another fantastic three points for the Amble boys.

Further chances fell to Andy Flanighan from a free-kick and to Jamie Stanford when he was one-on-one with the keeper from just inside the box with his shot hitting the side of the post and going out for a goal-kick.

Finally, Tom Anderson found himself in space outside the box but his shot was well-saved by the keeper. The game ended 1-0 to the Amble side and gained them promotion, which was just reward for their consistency throughout the season.

Amble: C Roper, A Flanighan, M Stephenson, J Fenwick, J Oliver, T Anderson, N Potts, B Little, M Anderson, C Fenwick, J Imeson, A Jobson, J Aston, J Stanford. Amble man-of-the-match: Callum Fenwick. Amble match sponsor: Amblers Rest Holiday Homes and UK Coal.