Leicestershire County Football League
Turner Insurance Services Premiership
Saturday 8th November 2025
Ambleside Athletic 3–3 Harborough Town Spencers
Player of the Match – Max Aldridge
Report – Tony Sansome
Harborough Town Spencers made the trip to Nuneaton to face second-placed Ambleside Athletic with a long list of absentees, but began brightly and took the lead after just seven minutes.
Excellent work from Kieron Perkins saw his shot parried by the goalkeeper, and Chinonso Emekekwue reacted quickest to slot home his first goal of the season. He almost doubled the advantage a minute later but fired over when a lob might have been the better option.
The hosts levelled on nine minutes from a corner — controversially awarded after appearing to go behind for a goal kick — and the game continued at a frantic pace with chances at both ends. On 31 minutes, the Spencers regained the lead through a well-worked move. In-form Hubert Witkowski beat his man down the wing and crossed for Sam Aldridge, who arrived from the opposite flank to restore the advantage.
The match turned on 37 minutes when Jake Ashenden was shown a red card. Despite battling to the break, Harborough conceded another equaliser just a minute later, as Ambleside made it 2–2 from a free header at a corner.
A tactical reshuffle at half-time saw Aldridge lead the line alone, working tirelessly to occupy the Ambleside defence. He went close again early in the second half, denied one-on-one by the home goalkeeper.
Ambleside then went 3–2 up when a shot was spilled by Avwerosuo Emekeme, and the hosts reacted quickest to turn in the rebound. Harborough, however, refused to fold. On 66 minutes, Aldridge powered through the middle and squared for Joe Brown, who made a superb run from midfield to finish — his last action before hobbling off on his return from injury after eight weeks out.
The hosts pressed hard late on, forcing Emekeme into several fine saves, including one low to his left, while the keeper was also quick to punch clear under pressure. Harborough almost snatched victory late on when substitute Aaron Hain cushioned a header into Aldridge’s path, only for the Ambleside keeper to save well again.
At full time, there were mixed emotions — pride at the battling display with ten men for nearly an hour, but a touch of frustration after leading three times. Standout performances came from Sam Aldridge and Kieron Perkins, while Max Aldridge earned the Man of the Match award for an outstanding defensive display, blocking, tackling, and heading everything that came his way.