Ampthill hit back for a point against AFC Welwyn after weekend defeat by Irchester
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Town showed more aggression and resilience but defences were on top and neither side could find the cutting edge to get the winner.
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Hide AdThe Amps did have good spells in each half on a difficult pitch with James Young and Jaden Browne both having shots parried while Tierlin Wilson went close with a header.
They slip out of the top five and now face three league away games at the start of next month.
Ampthill Town suffered a cup hangover on Saturday when they fell to their second league defeat of the term after a Challenge Trophy exit four days earlier.
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Hide AdThe Amps went out of the Challenge Trophy 3-2 at Premier outfit Wormley last Tuesday and there was more woe as table leaders Irchester sent them to their second reverse of the week with a 1-0 defeat.
The visitors finished in the bottom two last year, but after a close season overhaul they top the section and proved too strong and resolute for an Ampthill side who were off the pace and gave Irchester too much time for the most part in the first half.
The experienced Romans linked up in the back line to deny Town few openings while the hosts had to thank keeper Toby Collins for a string of good saves which saved them from a heavier defeat after Irchester's first half goal.
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Hide AdThe visitors began menacingly, but it was Town who had the ball in the net when Josh Bamford headed home Jaden Browne's cross only to see an offside flag.
This sparked the Alfred Street side and minutes after they had an effort cleared off the line.
The visitors took the lead in the 28th minute when a Town throw-in failed to find its target and after a midfield tussle, a four man Irchester move across the field finished with Connor Bailey sliding his shot past the incoming keeper.
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Hide AdCollins made two superb saves before the break but Town showed more commitment after the interval and gave the away defence a harder task.
But Ampthill had to graft for any openings against a firm defence and their best chance came when James Young skied a shot from close in from Lawrence Burton's cross before Zak Ward found the woodwork from an Irchester raid.
The Amps continued to try and find a way through the stubborn defence but there was no way through and Town's early failure to compete and challenge cost them dear.
The Amps have no game again this weekend but host Caddington of SML Divison Two on Tuesday in a Bedfordshire Senior Trophy first round tie at 7.45 before going to Stotfold Reserves on Saturday week.
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