Amble were aiming to reverse last season's Amateur Cup Final result in an attacking performance that deserved a better reward than this slender one goal defeat at the hands of nemesis Wallsend Town. "We did everything but score today and the lads gave a great team performance. We've still got five regular players battling to get back to fitness at this stage in the season but this performance was positive and deserving of a better result," said manager Ryan Jobson.

The outcome of the game hinged on decisions that certainly didn't go the visitors way but Amble still had plenty chances to win the match with goal scoring opportunities. The Seasiders welcomed back Richard Bell for his first game this year and was paired upfront with six goals in two games striker Ben Davidson. The homeside pressured the visitors in the opening spell but Amble keeper David Hansen produced two excellent saves to keep the scores level. 

Amble took the game towards the homeside with Paul Nisbet anchoring midfield alongside Mark Hedley with good support coming from Declan Armstrong and Nick Moore. The visitors were aggrieved after 15 minutes play and should have been awarded the first of two obvious penalties. Armstrong raced straight through into the box and was clearly pulled-back by the defence on two different occasions.

The homeside were pinned back into their own half with sweeping moves involving Shaun Jobson, Nisbet and Armstrong. Superb defending by Wallsend prevented the visitors taking the lead as Jobson delivered a series of crosses and freekicks into the penalty area. Moore produced a good 40yard run and Jobson shot just over the bar on the half hour mark and Davidson just failed to connect with a header before the interval.

The game flowed from end-to-end with both teams playing good football and Hansen produced another stunning save as Wallsend took advantage of the slope in the second period. Davidson had a good effort saved and Moore produced another great run and shot as the visitors pressured the homeside. Wallsend opened the scoring on the hour in controversial fashion involving an offside decision not being awarded. Amble pushed-out following a corner and the ball was knocked back to a Wallsend player clearly standing offside at the corner flag. Despite strong appeals, play continued and the ball was crossed for Steve Dodds to score.

The Seasiders moved-up another gear and pressed for the deserved equalising goal. Nisbet had a fierce 30 yard shot parried and Bell and Davidson just failed to connect with the rebound. Another goalmouth scramble saw the ball cleared off the homeside line on three occasions and Bell had a shot saved. Amble were aggrieved for the fourth occasion with an almost identical reverse situation that allowed the homeside goal. Bell scored with a superb header but the goal was chalked-off when Jobson was given offside on the far side of the pitch. In the final minute, teenage debutante Karl Taylor produced a devesting run to beat two defenders and cross the ball but Davidson's shot went agonisingly past the upright.

Amble FC Hansen, S Jobson, Timson, Towers, Straker, Armstrong (Robson) M Hedley (P Hedley) Nisbet, Moore (Taylor) Davidson,
R Bell. Subs Wilkinson Kielty