Match Report - SELSEY RESERVES - 15 Sep 2018

More Disappointment for Ambassadors as they crashed out of a cup they reached the final of last year at the 1st hurdle against a strong Selsey Reserves team.

Selsey started much the stronger of the two teams, but where met but a resolute Ambassadors back line who dealt with all that was thrown at them in the opening twenty minutes and then totally against the run of play some neat interchange in the center of midfield released Ben Chivers Gibbs who used his pace to beat the Selsey left back and whip in an excellent cross which Noller met at the back post to sweep the ball home for the opening goal. This gave Amabassadors the confidence they needed and they started to dominate the game as Selsey's defence struggled with the pace and physicality against them. Ambassadors were soon two goals ahead as sub Theobald sent Oppe clear and his low shot flew past the keeper. Quigley then had a golden chance to make it three after a through ball from Turner, but his lobbed attempt beat the keeper and rolled wide. Ambassadors controlled the rest of the half until disaster struck when after a goalmouth scramble a Selsey player slotted home from 1 yard.

Ambassadors came out from half time poorly with Selsey making a couple of substitutions that gave them greater control in the midfield, and within 15 minutes there positive play was rewarded as a blocked cross fell back to the Selsey player who floated the ball to the edge of the box and a looped header went over Treagus and into the net to bring the game level. With Ambassadors struggling to get back into the game Selsey took the lead when Selsey broke and as the striker looked clearly offside from a long ball the defence stopped, but the linesman didn't flag and he crossed to his fellow striker to tap home.

Going behind spurred Ambassadors on and they slowly came back into the game with substitute Matt Why making a difference down the right and then, as the game entered the last ten minutes Theobald sent a fantastically weighted ball through to Quigley who was chopped down in the box and Noller stepped up to convert the penalty and make the game level. Unfortunately it went downhill from there as extra time looked likely, Why had to go off with a broken collar bone and Selsey scored as a man was left totally unmarked at a corner to head home with three minutes to go to win the game.

Lots of positives for Ambassadors but ultimately a third defeat by one goal leaves them searching for a first win of the season and a tough league game against Boxgrove next week.