Bovril = 80p
With Handsworth apparently romping towards another piece of silverware, tonight's U21 game against Swallownest was theoretically a straightforward game. This is football of course, so the result flew in the face of expectations. This represented an excellent chance for nearby Swallownest to avenge their 7-0 trouncing in December.
The game began with one of the quotes of the season, with Handsworth's number 4 blatantly elbowing an opposition striker before claiming 'I never touched him!'. The first half was tight and evenly matched. The away side were a real threat in the box, with 10 forcing a save from a tight angle, before 9 turned, shot and again found the palms of the home keeper. Handsworth, as usual, were swift on the counter-attack, with James Dawes making some particularly dangerous runs and others spreading out around him. Their industrious running paid off when 12 was chopped down in the box with a penalty a no brainer. Dawes proceeded to miss the spot kick, with the keeper making a solid stop down to his right. It began to look as if the danger had passed and Swallownest were looking dangerous, creating plenty of space on both wings. But it is a funny old game, and the home side made it 1-0 when a cross from the right somehow dropped just inside the post.
Many other sides would have folded at this point, but not Swallownest. Barely a few minutes of the second half had passed and they were level when 9 slotted in coolly after some lax marking in the Amber's back line. Handsworth looked as threatening as ever, with Dawe's long range effort saved. Swallownest's 9 was a thorn in Handsworth's side, and netted a second to nudge the Swallows in front, latching on to a through ball which looked marginally offside. This brought a terrific response from the Ambers, with 8 testing the keeper with a couple of fierce shots, and the 17 sub looking skilful. The Swallows were not done, with 12 firing wide when they were through 3-on-1. Then Handsworth's Liam Flint clipped the heels of 9, bringing another yellow and a red. At this point the pitch was beginning to resemble a mud bath and one home player now had a completely brown shirt! The final action was when the home side's 8 had a drive saved. Swallownest deserve a lot of credit for this win, particularly how they set up in the second half - resolute in defence and skilful in the attack.
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