Amble FC earned a valuable away point in a match for the football purist with a visit to Wallsend Boys Club. The visitors line-up included ten teenage squad members as manager Ryan Jobson shuffled his midfield pack due to a squad ravaged by unavailability and injuries. "We were without the likes of Paul Nisbet, Billy Eastway, Craig Jones, Charles Towers, Tom Briggs and Timmy Muter but the youngsters who played today were outstanding. Both teams played tremendous football and demonstrated superb skills and technical ability. However, every member of our squad was thrilled to see Karl Scott make a welcome return to football," he said.

 

The homeside's Under 18s and 19s squad have been bolstered by senior players to guide the team through their first season in the Northern Alliance Second Divison. This match certainly lived-up to expectations with senior Northumberland FA officials watching a clash featuring youngsters coached through two of the counties football development programmes.

 

The visitors started with a series of sweeping moves that saw Richard Bell and Declan Armstrong test the homeside defence. Ben Davidson and Carl Sayer had opportunities in the opening spell but the visitors opened the scoring in the twelfth minute. Shaun Jobson delivered a freekick and Bell headed his first goal of the season. The quality of football was evident as both teams demonstrated superb passing and movement throughout the full 90 minutes.

 

The homeside had few opportunities as the visitors pressed the game with Mark Hedley, Nick Moore, Nicky Dunn, Armstrong and Sayer producing slick attacking football. Amble have dropped points in the past two games with incredibly dubious decisions being awarded in their opponents favour but on this occasion, Wallsend benefited from a lucky break. Hansen cleared his lines and the ball struck a defender and took a ricochet back to Andy Dalton to score from close range. Amble almost took the lead just before the interval when Armstrong headed just wide.

 

The second-half maintained the same tempo as both teams played end-to end attacking football. The Seasiders had chances and Bell just failed to cleanly connect with another header. The prevailing strong wind took the ball away from the Amble strike partnership of Bell and Davidson on several occasions as the visitors searched for a deserving winning goal.

 

Ryan Jobson introduced his former team captain, Karl Scott, and within minutes was involved in a sweeping move that almost secured all three points. Scott played a one-two back-heel with Davidson and a linkup move involving sixteen year old debutante Paul Hedley found Bell. The striker produced a first-time effort inches over the bar. Bell came close again when played through but on this occasion his shot just squeezed round the far post. The visitors can be well pleased with a good performance and a valuable point from a very young team. Amble FC entertain neighbours Amble Utd in a midweek fixture at the Welfare Park on Wednesday night KO.6.30pm

 

Amble FC Hansen, Dunn, Timson, Straker, Moore (P Hedley) S Jobson M Hedley, Armstrong (Connor) Sayer (Scott) Davidson R Bell Sub Flanighan