Report

Amesbury finished the season in fine style with a 2-1 victory against Tadley Calleva at Bonnymead Park. A brace from Daryl Charman put Amesbury in the driving seat but a Dan Vickers goal on 71 minutes which was shortly followed by the harsh sending off of Connor Palmer gave them a nervous last twenty minutes to hold on for a hard earned victory.

Tadley had the better chances in the first half but were wasteful in front of goal. Brett Denham got down through and shot wide from close in on 10 minutes before Mario Nurse fired over from the edge of the box. Mid way through the half Denham forced Harrison into a save diving to his left when he found himself through again. Charman then replied for the hosts when he headed over a Nathan Jones corner but the best chance fell to Denham shortly after when he got down the right and with two players waiting on the six yard box with the goal gaping he decided to shoot and missed the target. Tadley were then punished as Harrison’s clearance found Charman who controlled with his right foot and fired home with his left with five minutes left to half time. Nathan Jones then curled a shot from a free kick but Lee Allen in the visitors goal was able to comfortably save under the bar. The final chance of the half fell  to Denham,  this time a defensive slip let him in and although he fired the ball past the closing Harrison, McPhie did excellently to cover and clear off the line., the ball returned to Denham but he fired over from close range.

Amesbury came out with confidence and determined to hold onto their slender lead.  It was fairly even and on a shot wide from Denham  for Tadley was all there was of note until the hour mark.  Matt Western played down the left to Connor Palmer and his cross found Nathan Jones on the edge of the area but his shot was deflected past the post by Wheeler.  Charman and Western  then worked hard to get the ball of Tadley defenders  and Western set up Jones whose shot cleared the bar. The second goal came when on 66 minutes a Nathan Jones free kick into the area saw Al McPhie head back to Daryl Charman and he kept his cool to slot home. Tadley didn’t give up and Powell shot over but Amesbury then had a chance to put the game to bed when a corner eventually fell to defender Alan Jordan and his powerful low drive was just wide. On 71 minutes Tadley pulled a gola back when Dan Vickers shot into the far corner. Matters got worse for Amesbury a minute later when Connor Palmer caught Tennant in the face, his immediate reaction and that of the other players suggested it was an accident but the referee deemed it to be violent conduct so with some  surprise he was shown a red card.  Amesbury defended the last 20 minutes well  and restricted Tadley to a couple of chances, a shot from the edge of the box wide and finally Powell dinked the ball over the bar. After much added time the game was over and Amesbury, who have only lost twice in the last seven games , can look forward to next season with much optimism.   

Amesbury Town (All Blue) 1  Danny HARRISON  2  Connor PALMER 3  Ben PRYCE (capt) 4  Tom WESTERN  5  Alan JORDAN 6  Allan MCPHIE 7  Matt WESTERN 8  Nathan BARNETT 9  Daryl CHARMAN 10  Nathan JONES 11  Craig WHEELER 12  Colin KIRWAN  (for N Jones 82) 14  Ryan JONES (for Wheeler 90)  16  Stuart LINDSAY (for T Western 41) 17  Duncan SMITH  (not used) 15  Toni CAMILLERI  (not used)

Goals : Charman 40;66

Sent Off : Palmer 72

Tadley Calleva (Yellow/Black) 1 Lee Allen 2 Jason Kingston 3 Shaun Dallimore 4 Spencer Barlow 5 Les Wood 6 Grant Powell 7 Henry Johnson 8 Dan Vickers 9 Brett Denham 10 Mario Nurse (capt) 11 James Tennant 12 James Milford (for Dallimore 52) 14 Edward Hall (for Kingston 67) 15 Ravin Estrada (for Tennant 81) 16 Ramsay Lewis (not used)

Goal Dan Vickers 71

Referee Kevin Cutler

Attendance 46

Photos

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