AMBLE started this game very well, playing some good football against league high-flyers Ellington.
Right from the start, Amble pressed hard and their will to win was there for all to see.
Andy Flanighan played a ball through to Tom Anderson wh
o passed it square to Jason Imeson. The striker's shot rebounded out to Nathan Potts but his snap-shot from the edge of the area just fizzed wide.
Nathan Potts and Brad Little worked hard in central midfield, competing for every ball and not letting Ellington get into their passing game.
Another Flanighan pass minutes later through the middle went to Callum Fenwick, who went one-on-one with the keeper but his shot was well-saved by the keeper as he kept the ball out with his legs.
Fenwick then played in Jordan King but again the keeper saved.
Next to show was Jason Imeson, who played a great ball up to Jordan King. The lively striker struck a good shot but it flew narrowly past the post.
The industrious Callum Fenwick linked up well again with King but an Ellington defender managed to get in a great tackle to clear the danger.
Amble were flying at this point and another attack saw King playing a dangerous ball to Tom Anderson, whose excellent first-time shot went across the face of the goal before going out for a goal-kick.
Matty Stephenson and Adam Jobson both had terrific games in the centre of defence with the two of them dominating the dangerous Ellington forwards.
Alongside them James Oliver and Andy Flanighan made a very competitive back four that was hard to break down with both full-backs finding time to make some foraging runs down the wings.
Josh Purvis, standing in for the injured Cameron Roper, had little to do in the first half, only needing to make a couple of saves, but the imposing keeper oozed confidence and he commanded his penalty area well.
He made an early save in the opening minutes of the second half, comfortably dealing with a long-distance shot.
Amble then made the breakthrough as Jordan King scored for Amble when he collected a ball in the penalty area.
King's first shot hit the keeper but the striker stayed calm before tucking in the rebound from a tight angle for a 1-0 lead.
Going into the last 15 minutes, Ellington put in a low corner to the near post. The ball somehow found its way past two defenders and across into the 6-yard box for Ellington's Henderson to score the equaliser.
Amble roared straight back and, after a thunderous tackle from Matty Stephenson, Jason Imeson played a great ball between two defenders for James Aston to run onto and finish first time with a curling shot into the top of the net.
Unfortunately, as the home side celebrated, the goal was ruled as offside to keep the scores level. The two teams battled hard right to the final whistle with Amble looking the more dangerous but no more goals came, leaving the final score at 1-1.
This was a very good team performance from Amble, who passed the ball about well and more importantly they won their personal battles against a good Ellington side!
Amble: J Purvis, A Flanighan, M Stephenson, A Jobson, J Oliver, T Anderson, N Potts, B Little, C Fenwick, J King, J Imeson, J Fenwick, J Aston, J Stanford. Man-of-the-match: Jordan King. Match Sponsor: Amblers Rest Holiday Homes and UK Coal.