AMESBURY started second in the table and with more than 50 league goals to their credit already this season while New Street are 25 points adrift and struggling to score goals so on paper an easy home win looked certain, writes John Gorman.

The final score would appear to back that assumption but the game was far from one sided and simply decided in front of goal. Amesbury took their chances and New Street missed theirs, including a penalty, and in the end had nothing to show for 90 minutes in which they battled throughout and enjoyed an equal share of possession.

The visitors started the quicker with Prince Xhamela denied by goalkeeper Paddy Creese’s legs and Jack Whitlock’s cross going behind after a neatly worked free-kick.

Cameron Roach shot across the face of goal at the other end before a quick New Street break finished with Ralph Allen firing over and it was against the run of play when Amesbury took the lead with 11 minutes played.

Danny Finnegan dispossessed Whitlock in midfield and strode through unchallenged to lob the ball over the advancing Dave Tasker.

The keeper then held on to another effort from the same player and Liam Wilkins was too high with a free-kick at the other end before the home side’s Eddie Perrett began to make his mark.

One effort was just wide and Tasker had to leave his area to prevent him fastening on to a Nic Turpin through ball, but when Turpin then sent over a long cross from the right Perrett’s diving header doubled the home side’s lead.

This was during a period when the visitors seemed to be enjoying the best of the game but within four minutes, and with only half an hour played, they were suddenly three goals down.

Creese‘s long clearance was skilfully headed into Perrett’s path by Turpin and the tall striker coolly slotted the ball past Tasker. Creese, whose handling was a little erratic all afternoon, fumbled a free-kick but Ralph put the loose ball over the bar from close range and two New Street more chances went begging in a goalmouth scramble following a corner.

The last action of the half saw a Turpin effort shave the post and the break came with a scoreline that far from reflected the half.

Creese had to leave his line quickly on the restart to prevent Xhamela fastening on to a poor back pass before the home side wasted a golden chance to add to their lead.

Roach broke down the right, the defence was nowhere but when he side footed the ball across goal Perrett was offside and the chance lost. New Street wasted two chances in as many minutes that could have put them back in the game when Xhamela scooped Allen’s low cross over the bar from six yards and after the burly striker had been fouled in the area Whitlock’s penalty kick was also wastefully high.

Tasker denied Perrett with his legs and Creese at the other end saved brilliantly as Allen got on the end of a Xhamela cross but again in the midst of New Street pressure Amesbury added to their lead with a soft goal.

The ball was hit long and hard by Creese, the visiting defence were nowhere and Perrett easily completed his hat-trick.

A midfield fracas that did neither side any credit ended with a caution apiece before two goals in the final three minutes completed the scoring.

New Street gained some reward for their efforts when Creese fumbled a free-kick and substitute Lee Foyle prodded the ball over the line before Tyler Brockway sent Turpin clear and though Tasker blocked the first effort, Finnegan turned the loose ball back across goal and Turpin touched it home at the far post.

A chastening afternoon for the visitors but not many clubs have the goalscoring power that Amesbury possess – and goals win matches.