Saturday 23rd September 2006 Bootle 4 Ashton Athletic 0

Ashton came up against a more determined force on their travels to Liverpool with their opponents far more ruthless in front of goal when presented with goal scoring chances at critical times in the game.
Bootle took the initiative from the start and from the first corner, although the first cross was cleared it was returned into the box and a slight nudge on Rhead when attempting to clear was ignored by the referee to allow McDonald to cross for an easy finish by Eammon Price at the far post.
Bootle then dominated with Ashton struggling to find any rythmn through midfield. Good saves by Aaron Cameron and solid defending kept Ashton in the game and this provided a platform for Ashton to start playing themselves.
A critical 10 minute period of the match for Ashton produced half chances for Tom Potter, Simon Gallanders and then Peter Woodcock, but these were not converted, whilst a counter attack down the left from Bootle in the 29th minute produced a shot from Jamie Rainford that was too hot to handle for Cameron and Price was on hand again to tap in the rebound, with the static Ashton back line failed to respond to the threat.
Despite the set back Ashton then played their best football of the game and had a string of chances to reduce the deficit. A long range effort from Simon Gallanders was well stopped by the Bootle keeper. An excellent move down the left, with Pete Woodcock and Tom Potter combined well, and the resulting cross just alluded the advancing Tarpey on the edge of the 6 yard box.
Then from a short corner another Gallanders strike was deflected wide at full stretch by Bootle skipper Neil Mcqueen. The subsequent corner again had the Bootle defence rocking as a Steve Rothwell header was cleared off the line.
Bootle then had a couple of breakaways, but saves by Ashton keeper Cameron from Price and Joe Doran prevented Ashton from falling further behind. Just before the half time break another great run and cross by Gallanders found Dean Ennion in the box but his mistimed effort failed to trouble the Bootle keeper.

The second half got off with Ashton taking the innitiative, but with the Bootle defence in uncompromising mood the advances were repelled. Another key moment came in the 58th Minute as the excellent Gallanders made his only mistake of the match as an attempted quick free kick was cut out allowing Bootle to break away, out numbering the retreating Ashton defence and the influetial Paul McDonald getting his reward for an excellent all round performance with a well taken strike into the bottom corner.
Bootle were now able to play on the counter attack as Ashton tried everything to find a way back into the game, but it was Bootle who struck again, as from a long ball out of defence a simple flick on by McDonald found its way to his strike partner Price who completed his hat trick in the 65th minute with a thunderblot from the edge of the box into the roof of the net.
Credit the Ashton players however who continued to plug away at the Bootle goal, creating several good chances in the last 15 minutes of the match.
Substitute Dean Callaway sliced a chance wide after another good cross by Potter from the left, whilst the tireless Woodcock had 2 great efforts well blocked by the Bootle Goalkeeper, and then the Bootle skipper.
Dean Callaway then had two more efforts that went close in the dying minutes, the second after a great weaving run by Steve Bennett.
Ashton must now muscle up for the challenging trip to Padiham next Saturday (3PM kick off) and need to show better application in several areas to put alongside the pure effort shown by all the players throughout this game.
MoM for Ashton was Simon Gallanders whilst for Bootle Paul McDonald got the nod just ahead of Neil Mcqueen.

The Ashton Reserve team suffered a similar set back against a strong Padiham Reserve team going down by the same 0-4 scoreline, and as with the first team must bounce back for next weeks home game with Glossop North End Reserves 3pm Kick off.

Sunday 24th September 2006

Wigan Rangers(U12) 1 Ashton Athletic(U12) 7

Due to illness Ashton Athletic were down to just 11 players for this away trip to Wigan Rangers. Ashton scored two goals in the first half, with Elliott Powell getting both. Wigan Rangers had shown enough to suggest Ashton couldn’t approach the second half with anything other than full concentration.
However, goals came thick and fast in the second half with Liam Crabb and Josh Gillespie scoring before Wigan Rangers got one back for 4-1. The scoring wasn’t finished as further goals from Brandon Robson, Liam Crabb and Robson Barrass took the final score to
7-1.
An excellent all round performance by Elliott Powell won him Man of the Match. However, the whole back line deserve a mention too. Well done Adam, Jack, Sam, Ashley and Ben.

Two wins and one defeat represents a decent start for Ashton. Their season continues at Home on October 1st against Highfield Grange. Players Meet at 9:15 for a 10:00 kick-off.

Saturday 16th September 2006 Ashton Athletic 0 Eccleshall 2

A disastrous first fifteen minutes for Asthon saw another three points go west as lack of bite in the midfield and some sloppy marking and passing let the visitors dominate the opening period of the match.
After only 2 minutes Eccleshall took the lead as a bad pass out of defence was easily cut out and slow reaction from the Ashton midfield allowed a quick onopposed one two before a defence splitting pass found the Eccleshall captain Danny Stevens who smashed the ball into the bottom corner.
Then in the 15th minute an Ashton free kick from the half way line was intercepted too easily and from the counter attack striker Karl Williams burst into the box and with Ashton's Steve Rothwell stretching to intercept the attacker chose to throw himself to the ground despite there having been no physical contact. To the amazement of all watching (except the officials) a penalty kick was awarded, and converted by the same player.
This incident fired up the Ashton players - AT LAST - and for the rest of the first half was one way traffic. In the 17th minute a Steve Wallace cross found Martin Rigby in the box and the header was saved. Immediately therafter a Pete Tarpey shot was too hot to handle for the keeper, but the ball spill was not pounced upon by Ashton and the keeper regathered. The outstanding Simon Gallanders then had a shot well saved, and a sharp turn and snap shot in the box from Paul Townshend was also stopped. Ashton's best chance came 5 minutes before the break as an outstanding cross from Tom Potter reached an unmarked Martin Rigby and the back post, put the header was put wide.

The second half got underway with Ashton switching to a more attacking formation in an attempt to get back into the game quickly. This seemed to be working as Paul Townshend put in Pete Tarpey twice but the first shot hit the side netting whilst a susequent header lacked power and direction. Eccleshal rallied and from a corner nearly increased the lead as Steve Wallace cleared off the line before Aaron Cameron saved the second effort. A Steve Millington then had a free header from an Eccleshall free kick and should have increased the lead whilst on 62 minutes Steve Rothwell also put his header wide after an Ashton corner.
Ashton continued to press forward and the best chance of the second half fell to Tom Potter who ghosted into the box but again the effort from 12 yards out was blocked and from the rebound Pete Tarpey blasted over the top.
In the 89th minute a great curling free kick from Steve Wallace rattled the cross bar but bounced to safety and left ruing the poor start to the game and several good opportunities to get back in the game.
Only a few of the Ashton players played to, or beyond their potential with the tremendous hard work and skill displayed throughout the game by Simon Gallanders earning him the Man of the Match. For Eccleshall, Centre Half Jon Mills won their accolade for his terrific defensive stint.

Saturday 9th September 2006 Chadderton 1 Ashton Athletic 0

It was a case of "after the Lord Mayor's Show" for Ashton as last weekends success against league leaders Runcorn could not be built upon against a determined and well organised Chadderton team clearly on their guard and bouyed by their own recent results, and progression in the FA Cup preliminary rounds.
The match started well for Ashton who, as in previous matches had the best of the opening exchanges with a Martin Rigby shot and a Paul Townshend header going close. Tom Potter, cutting in from the left then struck the outside of the post from what seemed like an impossible angle.
Chadderton hit back forcing a corner that was cleared by the Ashton defence and from the counter attack a Mike Rhead curling shot was well saved by the Chadderton keeper, before a Pete Tarpey snap shot was also parried by the keeper at full stretch.
A period of sloppy passing in the midfield then allowed the home side to get a foothold in the game, with lively play down the flanks through Mickey Green, Ian Hulme and Gary Wright paticularly threatening to the Ashton defence.
Chadderton forced a series of corners and from one such set play Ashton won the first ball but it fell to a Chadderton player who returned the ball back into the box to find Hulme unmarked in the box, and his miss hit shot sent Aaron Cameron in the Ashton goal the wrong way to make it 1-0 after 23 minutes.
Asthon failed get get any real rythmn going for the rest of the half, with only sporadic attacks realising chances for Pete Tarpey and Mike Rhead with long range shots, whilst a curling free kick from Pete Hitchen just cleared the bar. The industrious Chadderton stopped Ashton playing, with Donavan Greenidge particularly effective in breaking up Ashton's advances and setting up Chadderton's own attacks, which forced several good saves from Cameron in the Ashton goal.
The early parts of the second half were someting of a stale mate with defences having the upper hand, and Ashton's best chances fell to Mike Rhead and Pete Hitchen who will both be dissappointed not to have scored from promising positions. Chadderton too had their chances with winger Gary Wright missing two great headed opportunities, one of which hit the bar.
Ashton chased the game for the equaliser in the last quarter, but even the introduction of strikers Pete Woodcock and Martin Rennox could not break through the stubborn Chadderton back line, with the supply continuing to be choked off superbly by the Greenidge brothers in the heart of the midfield for Chadderton. Andy Day was also introduced as substitute in the rear guard to allow a more attacking formation to be adopted but this too failed to bring dividends for Ashton
In pushing for the equaliser, gaps appeared at the back for Ashton, which Chadderton should really have punished to increase the lead. However another assured performance in the goal from Aaron Cameron and top draw performances by skipper Steve Rothwell, and full back Steve Wallace kept the home team at bay and keep the score at 1-0. The Chadderton MoM was Donavan Greenidge, whilst Steve Wallace was awarded Ashton's equivalent.
Ashton must now seek to recapture the form from the Runcorn match quickly, and get ready for the next match at home to Eccleshall FC on Saturday 16th September 3pm kick off.

Ashton's Reserves recovered superbly from 0-2 down to earn a point through goals from Daniel Hitchen and Simon Mcguire in the second half. This result was the fourth draw in five league matches, and the first win can only be around the corner, hopefully in their next match as they travel to New Mills on Saturday for a 3pm kick off.

End

Saturday 2nd September 2006 Ashton Athletic 2 Runcorn Linnets 1

Linnets blown off course by Tarpey double strike

North West Counties Division Two table toppers, Runcorn Linnets were brought down to earth by a great hardworking performance by Ashton Athletic who rose to the challenge and put a stop to the visitors 100% record in front of a lively sizeable crowd.
It is often the case that, after a 'Mourinihoesque' boast, somebody usually ends up with egg on their face. Step forward Runcorn Linnets skipper, Ricky Newall, who in the local press last Thursday was quoted as declaring 'We are going out to win this league and be unbeaten right through the season'.
Runcorn's hopes of an unbeaten campaign floundered at Brocstedes Park as they were "Tarpeydoed" by two timely but varied finishes by Home team's number 10.

Both teams were forced to make changes from last outings with pacy left winger, Michael Young out of Runcorn's team, whilst Ashton had to reshuffle with centre midfielders Rhead and Jarrett both sidelined with illness, and adding to an already lengthy injury list.
Despite the changes both teams started brightly playing some fluent passing through the midfield. The first attempt at goal came from Runcorn when Colin Quirk and Andy McCoy linked up to force a good save from Ashton keeper Aaron Cameron.
From the counter attack it was Ashton however who took the lead when a through ball over a somewhat static Runcorn back line was pounced on by the lively Tarpey who lobbed the ball over the advancing Runcorn keeper George Caulfield to make it 1-0.
The remainder of the first half was end to end but the better chances fell to Runcorn, however some excellent last ditch defending and several fine saves by Cameron in the Ashton goal seemed to be keeping the league leaders at bay.
Ashton had decent possession but lacked the killer pass to open up the Runcorn defence with the best opportunity falling to Paul Mcveigh, playing through the pain barrier after a heavy fall on his shoulder.
Ashton's stubborn defending seemed to have done enough to go in at half time one up, until the 43rd minute when a deep corner was met beyond the back post and returned back across goal. Runcorn defender Paddy O'Driscoll found too much space and bundled the ball over the line with the Ashton defence failing to react quickly enough, and left claiming for hand ball as the referee blew for the goal that tied up the scores.
Runcorn pressed forward again and on the stroke of half time could have scored again as a snapshot from Thomas Lamb was palmed away via the post by keeper Cameron.
Half Time: Ashton Athletic 1 Runcorn Linnets 1

Three minutes after the restart Andy McCoy went close yet again as his shot forced another fine save from Cameron who turned the ball round the post.
Good football was again on show from both sides, and from a smooth passing move down the left Ashton were awarded a corner. The set piece was swung in deep by Potter to find Rigby who in turn headed goalwards, and the elusive Tarpey got to the knock down first to make it 2-1 on the hour.
Runcorn stepped up their search for a second, Lamb having a shot cleared off the line by Aspinall. With time running out Runcorn's frantic search for an equaliser left them stretched at the back and only smart work by Caulfield prevented Tarpey from getting his hat-trick, and also pulled off a double save firstly blocking a Potter shot and then claiming the rebound as substitute Daniel Hitchen bore down.
Runcorn pressed forward again and in the 82nd minute almost grabbed a goal as Quirk's cross was deflected inadvertently by defender Aspinall towards the top corner. However, Cameron in the Ashton goal capped of a tremendous game with a miraculous save clawing the ball away to safety, and in doing so secured the three points for the home side
The Runcorn Man of the Match was awarded to the inventive Quirk however he was in good company with Newell, Rollinson, O'Driscoll and McCoy all playing well.
For Ashton the whole squad was outstanding and any one player could have swung it. However with Tarpey upfront and Cameron in goal jointly doing the crucial things at the right time, the MoM award had to be shared between the two of them.

Meanwhile, the Latics Reserve team earned their third draw in four games, returning from Daisy Hill with a share of the spoils after a 3-3 draw, with goals from Rennox, Parkinson and Woodcock.

Next Saturday, 9th September Ashton are away at Chadderton whilst the reserves will play at home against Flixton, both are 3pm kick offs.

End