Late winner sees Ampthill stay unbeaten as play-off push continues
Ampthill Town's superb away form has kept them in play-off contention, but they had to come from behind on Saturday to snatch a 2-1 win at Rushden and Higham.
The minutes were ticking away when substitute Josh Bamford fired in the winner to grab Town's third away win on the bounce against a brave home outfit.
It was a hat-trick of wins against Rushden this term after beating them early in the season and then ending their FA Vase hopes before a resilient display saw Town bring the points back from Hayden Road at the weekend.
The Amps were stunned by an early goal but created their own chances and levelled before the break.
But they had to wait until the closing minutes for away win No.11 to extend their unbeaten run since January.
Town's defence has been a mainstay of that sequence, but they trailed after 15 minutes with a rare misunderstanding on the edge of the box between keeper Howe and his defenders for Mo Kahn to tap the ball into an empty net.
The Amps tried to hit back and Danio Brown had a shot tipped away which saw Mike Draycott's header hit the bar before Fred Knight was twice through but could not find the target.
However, Town got their reward on the half hour when Gaz Hunt clipped home Sam Holmes' cross, though it took a wonderful stop by Howe to deny Khan when he was through again.
Howe was on top form once more when he produced a flying save from Jory Mann's 25 yard shot after the break while Knight put a shot wide from good work by Town's Brown.
There was mayhem when a Rushden break was stopped by Jack Kent, who got a yellow card with the hosts pleading for a red card and a penalty which never came, and another home breakaway was stopped by a timely Draycott challenge.
But Town kept up their attacks and in a final rally Brown and Ingham combined to find Josh Bamford in a crowded area, and he lashed the winner past Ibbeson.
The Amps had to work hard for the victory but it is now 10 games without defeat in their search for a play-off place.
They take a break from their travels on Saturday when they host Huntingdon in their penultimate home match before a Thursday trip to Buckingham followed by an Easter Saturday clash at Cranfield.