Ampthill Town 0, Eaton Socon 1

14th September 2024 :: Spartan South Midlands Division One

EATON WRIGHT ON TOP AS SUPER SUB HEADS HOME THE WINNER
Another well organised team performance from an Eaton side, whose hard work on the pitch is contributing to some credible results, once again ending Ampthill Town’s unbeaten run of games at the start of the season, on their own pitch.

Eaton were missing five players from their starting line-up in their thrilling 1-0 win against AFC Welwyn on Tuesday night, along with Hayden Armiger, who is still struggling to shake off a knock from two weeks ago. Nevertheless, a tight knit squad with Joseph Keech and Owen Dunnett teaming up in defence, allowing our hosts Ampthill Town very little all game.
Eaton started brightly with Stanley Ayre playing in the number ten role, getting a shot blocked and then firing over the bar, after only three minutes of play. It was Ayre once again who fed Jake Williams, who rounded the keeper and dinked goalwards, only to see his effort cleared off the line.

Eaton continued to peg Ampthill back with midfielder Stanley Dawkes drilling into the box, only to see his effort deflect out for a corner kick. Next up was Gabriel Ryan, whose stinging shot from twenty yards, came crashing back off the woodwork.
The chances kept on coming for Eaton with Jaiden Fitzpatrick consistently firing crosses in from the left and Williams running onto another, with the Ampthill keeper saving well.

Another Eaton attack down the right hand side was also headed over by Dom Mason, from a fine cross from Gabriel Ryan. A frustrating half time score of 0-0, with Eaton dominating for large spells of the half.

The second half started well again for Eaton, with a fine effort from Mark Ansell-Carter being pushed around the post, earning another corner kick.

Eaton’s midfield kept possession well, with Dawkes, Mason and Ansell-Carter winning the majority of fifty-fifty duals, despite Ansell-Carter taking a team yellow, as Ampthill broke on a rare foray upfield.

Substitutes Asher Banton and Caleb Wright replaced Ayre and Ryan on sixty-five minutes, with both having positive impacts, with Banton crossing for Williams, whose header was pushed onto the post and away on sixty-nine minutes.

With another good run from Mason earning a free kick, it was Fitzpatrick who clipped the bar with his effort however, Eaton were not giving up and continued to press for a winner.

Another corner was fired into the Ampthill box but it was Wright who jumped the highest, to steer his header into the bottom corner of the goal, putting Eaton 1-0 up.

Williams and Ansell-Carter were replaced on eighty-three minutes for Billy Olive and Ben Hilsdon-Peart, who both got straight into the tempo of the game.

Eaton closed out the remaining minutes of the fixture with only a couple of corners to defend in the five added-on minutes, to finally get their first away league win of the season at their fifth attempt, along with their fourth league clean sheet in a row, as keeper Shay Griffiths had a routine afternoon.

Manager Craig Smith was pleased with his team’s performance and commented after the game that “everyone had put in a shift to earn the win, against a very hard to beat Ampthill side”.

In terms of player of the match, a fine midfield performance from Ansell-Carter doing all the dirty work required, along with a lot of good work on and off the ball however, it is Jakob Buckle who is rewarded this week for being faultless at the back and full of encouragement, a true captain’s performance from the skipper. Credit must also be given to the entire squad for their well organised and disciplined display, keeping Eaton in sixth place in the league table.

Goal: Wright
Player of the Match: Jakob Buckle