Back row left- right, Rob Evans, Mikey Linsley, Callum Dunning, Andy Daffern, Matty Bean, Danny Foxton,

Front Row left-right, Neil Audsley, Martin Winstanley-Smith, Tom Audsley, Chris Smales, Rich Smith,

Back Row left -right, Steve Fraser, James Kerrison, Simon Hugil, Adam Morley, Chubby Wilkinson, Timmy Webster ??, Phil Thisleton

Front row left- right, George Moore, Richard Kerrison, Liam Rapp, Cartwright, Matty Webster, Mark Baker

Fulford 1 – 1 A&S (HT: 1-1)

A&S fielded a fairly settled team against Fulford, with Matty Bean coming into a starting line up otherwise unchanged from the win against Huby. Neil’s pre-match team talk stressed that 3 wins would see them promoted and a repeat of the previous weeks low tempo display would not be good enough.

The pitch was little more than a crop field, and A&S were caught out by it early on when the ball hit a divot and popped up to hit Neil Audsley on the arm, just inside the penalty area. The somewhat erratic ref got this one right and awarded Fulford a penalty. Borrowing from the rules of golf, the Fulford striker took a preferred lie about a foot away from the penalty spot and dispatched the ball scruffily into the corner having sent the A&S keeper the wrong way. This was about the only clear chance Fulford created in the first half, and although A&S did carve out several good chances the general energy level was low and the standard of play suffered. A&S brought the game level when a good run and cross from George Moore was converted by Mike Lindsley coming in from the right wing, for his third in two games.

The second half took the same pattern as the first. A&S were not quite firing on all cylinders, yet still dominated and created several chances. Mike Lindsley, Matty Bean and Tom Audsley had a host of chances between them but were unable to convert. Just before Neil was about to bring on Richard Smith (after a loan spell at Egypt FC) and Shane Olley, Rob Evans went down like a sack of spuds when his ankle gave way after an innocuous challenge for a header and the big lump had to be helped off the pitch. The half petered out with A&S unable to convert any of the numerous chances they created and escaping the odd foray forward by Fulford.

Overall a frustrating game in a frustrating season. Chris Smales, George Moore and Danny Foxton emerged with credit in an otherwise lacklustre display.

A&S’s promotion hopes now rest in Ouseburn’s hands, with Tockwith being out of reach. Should Ouseburn lose at home against an out of form Heslington on Monday night a win against Tockwith on Saturday will line up a promotion decider on Wednesday 30^th at the BSA.

A&S Reserves got through a tricky tie at lowly Huby thanks to some good attacking play. The day started badly with half the team suffering from directional issues and arriving 15 minutes before kick-off having struggled to find the ground. However, come 2pm A&S lined up with a strong team and had Matty Bean on the bench after a few weeks absence. The first half was fairly even, with A&S getting the ball down and playing some good football, but Huby had several corners and set pieces. A&S looked a little off the pace at times and were made to pay when a mix up on a simple through ball allowed the Huby striker to ghost in and slot home from a tight angle. A&S got straight back in it when a complete mis-hit from Callum Dunning at right back managed to reach George Moore on the left wing who sent in an inviting cross that Tom “ex-Hero” Audsley converted.

Early in the second half, A&S took more control and were rewarded when Mike Linsley struck from outside of the area with a great shot that went crashing in off the post. The teams then traded goals when a good cross from Mike Linsley was met by Tom Audsley and blocked by the ‘keeper, only for Shane Olley to ghost in and finish smartly while, at the other end, indecision in clearing the defensive lines gifted Huby a goal. A 2 goal soon cushion came, with Audsley Jnr beating the defence drawing out the keeper and squaring the ball to the advancing Mike Linsley for his second of the game. Huby threw on 3 subs in an attempt to get back in the game and it made a difference, with the substitute striker outpacing the A&S defence, rounding Andrew and slotting home from a tight angle. A&S were not done though, with Matty Bean being rewarded with a goal for the excellent work he’d done since coming on at half time.

MOTM was Mike Linsley, who not only scored twice but also put in a massive shift in midfield - must have found the magic of Lucozade Sport.

Neil the Gaffa’s Message:

Firstly, buy a map. Secondly, I’ve done the maths and if we win all our remaining games we go up, simple as that. So stop mucking about and get it done.

A strong squad travelled north to face an Ouseburn team on a 5 game winning streak. A&S Res started with a 3-5-3 formation, trying to dominate the midfield and make best use of a narrow pitch. The early exchanges were tight, with neither side able to create any clear cut opportunities. The swirling wind made thing difficult for the A&S defence, especially from the giant keeper’s goal kicks, but the back three mopped up any aerial danger. After an Ouseburn chance created from a slide rule pass to their right winger, A&S made a formation change to a more traditional 4-4-2, with the excellent Ad Gray moving to right back and Callum Dunning slotting into left back. The added space enabled Tom Audsley to torment the opposing full-back, creating a chance to run through via Martin W-S that the ‘keeper did well to block. Gary Punchard and Danny Foxton used the space in midfield well, tracking back when required and dictating the pattern of play for A&S. Mike Lindsley combined well with Ad Gray and Matty Bean throughout the first half, but couldn’t find a breakthrough. Ouseburn had a couple of set pieces, but failed to make anything of them in the face of a solid defence of Gray, Cocker, Evans and Dunning. A first-half high on effort finished 0-0.

The second half continued in the same vain, though A&S managed to carve out a couple of chances from which they could have taken the lead. Matty Bean fired over and was harshly given offside when clear through, while Martin WS seemingly won every flick-on against the Ouseburn defence. The stand in Ref received some free advice from Rob Evans when Cocker was tripped by the Ouseburn forward, who then had a clear view of goal. No foul was given, but justice was done when the big striker put his shot wide. Changes were made to try and grab a goal. Martin give way to Dobbo allowing Tom Audsley to take a more familiar role up front, while Sam Cooper replaced Punchard in the centre of midfield. Cocker was in the thick of it again coolly striding out of defence and putting a ball over the Ouseburn defence for Tom to run onto. Jnr scored with a decisive finish that teed up a hectic last 15 minutes. Ouseburn pressed for an equaliser, but the A&S defence were a match for their efforts and closed the game out.

Overall a great effort from all involved and a very good result that gives A&S Res’ chance of promotion a shot in the arm. A&S are now second in Div C with a home game against NU on Saturday. NU have suffered from indifferent form recently, but the memory of Sol Campbell’s one-man defensive performance in the away fixture looms large in the memory of Bean and Audsley. A&S should have octogenarian Audsley Snr back after his tour of nursing homes in Italy and Panama.

Match Reports- Heslington Reserves 2-1 Amotherby Reserves

A&S Res lost their promotion clash at Heslington, to put a place in Div B in serious doubt. A&S Res only had 11 players for the second week but started the game brightly on a cow-field of a pitch, with Matty Bean and Martin Winstanley combining well up front. A&S took the lead early on with a cool finish from Matty Bean after good work from Mike Linsley and Martin W-S down the left hand side. As has become common, A&S couldn’t kill off the opposition while they were on top and slowly Heslington came into the game. Focussing down their right flank, Heslington often succeeded in drawing the A&S defence out of position and a few saving blocks and tackles was all that stood in their way. The equaliser came eventually when A&S allowed the right winger to cross too easily and the striker slotted home. A few harsh off-side decisions robbed Matty Bean of clear runs on goal, from which the in-form striker would have surely added to his recent haul of 4 goals in 2 games.

The second half was a scrappy affair with few clear cut chances. A&S caused the diminutive Heslington defence problems from set pieces, with Danny Foxton putting a half-volley just wide from the penalty spot. The Heslington centre midfield had got a grip on the game and were first to knock downs and second balls, despite the considerable efforts of Foxton and Liam Rapp who tirelessly covered acres of ground. Mid-way through the half, Mike Lindsley was caught napping and the Heslington captain robbed him and put a ball through that split the defence. The striker took his time before slotting the ball past Andrew Daffern and into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

Andrew Daffern pulled off another contender for save of the season when a cross from the left was volleyed sweetly by the right winger. In the later stages, A&S had chances to equalise, most notably by Rappy, who latched onto a Rob Evans flick on but could only fire straight at the ‘keeper from 6 yards. The lack of substitutes showed as A&S couldn’t change the pattern of the game, while Heslington threw on fresh legs to keep their momentum. The final twist was when Callum Dunning tried to cut the winger that had tormented him all game in half in the area, conceding a penalty. Again Andrew Daffern was more than a match and palmed the effort away to the onrushing striker, who hit the next field with his follow up from 3 yards while under pressure from Richard Smith.

MOTM was deservedly shared by Liam Rapp for his immense work rate and Andrew Daffern for some fine shot stopping.

A&S Reserves are now third as other results went their way, notably Hemingbrough losing 0-3 to lowly Stillington. However the next game is an away day at on-form Ouseburn, who whooped Civil Service 10-3 in their last game. With potentially the return of Hero Audsley Jnr and Jinking Bobby Brewer from mid-season breaks, hopefully the season can be put back on track.