After a home victory over the Easter weekend, the Ammies travelled to Pilkington for their final away league fixture of the season.
Manager James Kinsey kept faith with the same starting XI that delivered six points over Easter, with the only change to the squad seeing Bryan Ly named among the substitutes. Meanwhile, supporters kept one eye on Ramsbottom’s clash with South Liverpool as the title race continued to unfold.
The Ammies started quickly and thought they had taken the lead after 8 minutes when Curtis Jones found the net, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. Jones went close again moments later, but this time the goalkeeper made the save.
The breakthrough came in the 11th minute, as Arron Dwyer struck from 20 yards, smashing the ball into the net to make it 1–0.
Despite heavy rain beginning to pour, the Ammies continued to control the game. Dwyer doubled his tally in the 23rd minute, before completing his hat-trick on the half-hour mark to put the visitors firmly in charge at 3–0.
Prince was a constant threat, going close in a one-on-one and from a free-kick, both denied by the Pilkington keeper. The hosts’ best chance fell to their number 11, who fired over the bar from close range, while Josh was called into action late in the half to deny their number 7, with penalty appeals waved away.
The Ammies maintained their intensity after the break. Although an early corner came to nothing, the goals soon followed.
In the 59th minute, Darius Palma made it 4–0. Sam added a fifth in the 66th minute, and just two minutes later substitute Joel Ankers made it 6–0.
Sandro came close to adding another, but his effort drifted just wide.
The seventh goal arrived in the 74th minute, with Palma producing a brilliant solo run from his own half before finishing clinically. He was then replaced by Bryan Ly.
Pilkington managed a consolation goal in the 77th minute to make it 7–1, but the Ammies responded almost immediately, with Prince rounding off the scoring in the 80th minute.
Speaking after the game, manager James Kinsey praised his side’s mentality:
“I told the lads to go and get the ball back, and they were absolutely ruthless. We’ve talked about giving everything on the ball.”
Looking ahead to the next fixture, he added:
“We’ve got another game on Tuesday where we need a point to win it. With two games to go, it’s an unbelievable position to be in.
We’ve got to prepare right, fill it with our supporters and our juniors, and make it an unbelievable occasion – but it won’t be an easy game.”
Michael Jarvis
Photos: Bill Shepherd
