SPORTSMANS DINNER Friday 23rd February 2007

Ashton Athletic Football Club

Present Our Sporting Dinner

On Friday 23^rd February 2007

With Special Guest Speakers

Joey Jones & Sean Styles

At the Haydock Park Racecourse

Time: 7 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. Dress: Smart Casual

You are cordially invited to support Ashton Athletic FC by joining us at our Sporting Dinner to be held at the superb hospitality areas of Haydock Park Racecourse, Haydock on Friday 23^rd February 2007.

Our special guest speakers will be Joey Jones, twice-European cup winner and former Liverpool Wrexham and Wales defender, and Sean Styles comedian and BBC radio personality.

You are welcome to purchase any number of places, whilst individual companies can also advertise in the souvenir menu produced for every guest (prices upon request). Furthermore, if you are interested in hosting Top Table then please call Eric Hamilton on 01942 723563.

All proceeds from the night will go towards youth development at the club.

We do hope that you can join us.

Paul Hamilton – Ashton Athletic FC Tel: 07920 789537

Eric Hamilton – Ashton Athletic FC Tel: 01942 723563(07768 178639)

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Booking Form: Ashton Athletic Sporting Dinner – 23^rd February 2007

Please reserve _ __ place(s) @ £30

Please reserve __ _ table(s) of 10 @ £250

Name______________________________

Company (if applicable)_________________________________

Address________________________________________________________

Post Code________________ Tel _______________ Fax ___________________

Please make cheques payable to "Ashton Athletic FC" and send to: -

Eric Hamilton 2 Fairholme Ave Ashton In Makerfield Wigan WN4 8LL

If you cut and paste this form on to a word document and reduce the font size you should be able to print it off at A4 paper size

Saturday 27th January 2007 Ashton Athletic 2 Castleton Gabriels 1

Ashton followed up the excellent performance and three points against Padiham with a second league win on the run against a physical Castleton team. The hard work put in by the squad during the three week enforced lay off after the Padiham game was duly rewarded and although the quality of the football failed to match that of the win against Padiham the team showed great strength of character and an ability to grind out the result when necessary.

Things looked good for Ashton in the opening exchanges with early efforts from Si Gallanders and Tom Potter just wide of the target, the second chance after good work by Richard Sharpe and Daniel Hitchen down the right.

Gallanders then split the defence with a slide rule pass to find Hitchen breaking through on goal, but as the recovering defender pulled him back Hitchen had to overstretch and his attempted lob went agonisingly wide. Cries for a penalty from the home side were ignored by the officials deeming that putting the ball wide gave Ashton an advantage!!?

Another Gallanders through ball found Tom Potter wide on the left and his early cross fizzed across the goal, inches beyond the advancing Sharpe.

Castleton fought back and a series of soft free kicks conceded by Ashton in their own half and several corners allowed the visitors free delivery into the Ashton box that were fortunately well handled by Ashton’s defenders.

After 22 minutes Gallanders and Potter unleashed two more long range efforts that were too hot to handle for Castleton keeper Mark Canning but Ashton could not capitalise as the loose ball fell kindly for the visitors.

A short corner in the 26^th minute was played to Wallace whose deep cross found Rigby stealing in at the back post but his downward header was placed just wide. Wallace was in the action again after 29 minutes, pouncing on to a loose ball on the edge of the box with a first time shot that crashed against the bar and the rebound was cleared by a relieved Castleton defence.

Castleton tried to fight back but the Ashton defence and midfield were in determined mood and coped well with the sporadic attacks. Even the attempts by Castleton to rough up and distract the Ashton team brought no reward for the visitors as the Ashton players stood their ground and gave as good as they got.

Ashton finally got their reward for their first half endeavours in the 45^th minute as hard working front man Sharpe, dispossessed the Castleton centre half and then showed great vision to release Tom Potter whose superb early strike flew into the top corner with keeper Canning a mere spectator. HT 1-0

Castleton’s intent was displayed in the first move of the second half as straight from the kick off Gallanders was taken out with a high challenge that was clearly designed to try to put Ashton on the back foot but again the team did not lie down and responded in kind.

Castleton had a strengthening wind at their backs which suited their long ball game into their three physical forwards but it was a freak decision by one of the assistant referees that game them the momentum them were looking for to draw level. A long ball from deep inside the Castleton half curled out of play by at least 2 feet and re entered the field of play in line with the edge of the Ashton box and put out of play. Expecting a throw in to be awarded at the other end of the pitch to everyone’s amazement the official flagged for a Castleton throw. Ashton failed to clear and Ben Stanford used his strength to fend off attempted tackles from Aspinall, Rothwell and Watson before smashing the ball into the roof of the net after 50 minutes. 1-1

Both teams spent the following 10 minutes battling for the upper hand and chances fell at both ends as Aspinall broke well down the left and his well hit shot hit the side netting, whilst Pheby and Stanford for Castleton shot high and wide with long range efforts.

Substitutes Winer and Mahoney were introduced around the hour mark with Gallanders taking up a more advanced position and the changes wrestled the initiative back to Ashton and almost produced an immediate return as Gallanders had another effort well save by Canning.

Then in the 70^th minute a controversial refereeing decision as a great cross from the right reached Martin Rigby on the six yard box and having jumped early he got first to the ball and headed home as keeper canning came of his line attempting to claim. The Ashton celebrations were however short lived as the referee awarded a free kick to Castleton, for a foul on the keeper. Undeterred Ashton pressed forward and a Richard Sharpe shot forced another good save before Matt Mahoney glided into the box and looked to be clearing the Castleton back line until two defenders took his legs and crashed to the floor. A stone wall penalty it was but amazingly the referee waved play on.

Castleton made their substitutions which gave them a boost and one of the entrants, Phil Stephenson immediately latched on to a fine through ball but could only shoot wide.

In the 84^th minute Ashton were awarded a free kick in a wide position 35 yards out, and a great delivery from Potter was headed back across goal and into the path of the advancing Gallanders who finished superbly and give Ashton a deserved lead. 2-1

Immediately from the kick off Ashton regained possession and another driving run by Gallanders drew the defence and a well timed pass played in Mahoney whose shot was turned around the post by Canning. The corner came to nothing and in the dying minutes Castleton poured men forward in an attempt to equalise. The Ashton defence held firm, and a superb reflex save by the otherwise inactive Andy Hewitt, in the 4^th minute of stoppage time was enough to see off the last Castleton attack.

Seconds before the final whistle Ashton could have increased the lead as Peter Hitchen, burst forward and unselfishly tried to square the ball to Gallanders for a tap in, but his pass was cut out by the outstretched hand of Canning. FT 2-1

Some classic wing play and a contender for goal of the season from Tom Potter earned him the Ashton MoM whilst Billy Craven took the Castleton award for some stubborn defending against the in form Potter.

Next week Ashton are at home again against Leek CSOB 3pm KO.

The reserves travelled to New Mills with a strong squad but clearly failed to "gel" and were eventually defeated 5-1. They will be keen to bounce back as they travel to Darwen next Saturday for a 3pm KO

Saturday 6th January 2007 Ashton Athletic 2 Padiham 0

Ashton’s New Year got off to a great start win a convincing win against promotion candidates Padiham, who were well placed in fourth place at the start of proceedings. For Ashton it was a realisation of the potential displayed in recent games.

After the reserve game on the Brocstedes pitch last week in atrocious weather, great credit to grounds man Derek Heaton whose efforts during the week gave the pitch a shouting chance to be ready for this game. Heavy rain on Saturday morning cast some initial doubt about the game proceeding but the referee, Peter Simm declared the pitch playable although there was a chance that the game might have turned into a mud bath if the rain had returned. Fortunately but for a light shower the weather stayed dry and the pitch held together superbly.

Ashton started the game clearly determined to make up for the disappointing result at Norton last week but Padiham were in similar mood having also lost their last game, and the efforts blanked each other out for the first fifteen minutes.

The first chance of the game came as a Tom Potter crossed into the box and Steve Rothwell’s header was put over the top. Simon Gallanders then fed Richard Sharpe who got behind the defence and lobbed the keeper, but was adjudged to be offside much to the disapproval of the home supporters who felt he had timed his run superbly.

Then came Padiham’s moment in the sun as an under hit back pass by Martin Rigby was intercepted by the league’s top scorer Paul Fildes but Andy Hewitt was quick to narrow the angle and turned the ball away for a corner.

In the 20^th minute Padiham skipper Paul Paynter then lost his marker and stole in around the back to latch onto a deep cross but his header was off target.

These scares lifted the Ashton effort again and Gallanders once again split the defence to find Sharpe clear and this time onside but Padiham keeper Gavin King was out quickly to smother the chance.

On 26^th minutes Ashton were awarded a free kick after Steve Wallace was hauled down in full flow and Tom Potter swung in the set piece directly on to Martin Rigby’s head, who made no mistake to power the ball into the net to give Ashton the lead. 1-0.

Another set piece found Richard Sharpe in the box and his downward header fell kindly for Gallanders who steered the ball towards the top corner but it just cleared the bar.

Just before the half time break Padiham a poor defensive clearance by Ashton fell to Paynter whose early cross found Fildes in space but his shot was well saved by Hewitt to kept the home sides lead intact. HT 1-0

As you might expect Padiham came out strong in the early exchanges in the second half forcing a misjudgement by Ashton’s keeper Hewitt who mistimed his punch but fortunately as the ball fell to Paynter good closing down forced him to shoot high and over the top.

On the counter attack Aspinall released Potter whose great cross just eluded 3 advancing Ashton attackers and went harmlessly past the far post.

After 52 minutes Padiham centre half Matt Woods surged through the Ashton midfield but skewed his shot wide from just inside the box.

More clever work from Gallanders created space for himself to shoot from the edge of the box but the effort was well saved by King, and then a great chance to increase the lead as Wallace crossed to Sharpe who did well to get first to the ball and force King to save at full stretch with the ball flying towards the bottom corner.

Good play again in the 63^rd minute as Daniel Hitchen pounced on a loose ball in the box only to be denied by a goal line by Padiham’s left back Ingham.

The pressure on the Padiham defence was mounting and great play again down the left in the 70^th minute between Potter and Aspinall got Ashton behind the back four and a great cut back onto the edge of the box found Adam White whose first time volley flew in to the top corner, a goal that would have graced any level of football. 2-0

Padiham almost got a foothold in the game in the 78^th minute when an attempted clearance from inside the Ashton box struck the back of substitute Callum Routledge but fortunately Hewitt was again alert and saved well. Padiham had a couple of half chances as Andy Haworth’s shot was deflected wide and Vinnie Braine effort that was gathered by Hewitt but it was Ashton that looked the stronger at the finish and fully deserved the 3 points. FT 2-0

MoM for Ashton was Tom Potter with some excellent wing play although the midfield of Gallanders and White pushed him close. Steve Pickup got the nod for Padiham for a solid defensive display.

Next Saturday there is no game for the first team with the scheduled opposition in County Cup action and must therefore wait until the 20^th January when they entertain Norton United at Brocstedes. However the reserves do have a home league match on Saturday against Formby Reserves, 3pm Kick off.

Saturday 30th December 2006 Norton United 1 Ashton Athletic 0

Ashton signed off 2006 with a disappointing result at Norton United going down to a 23^rd minute strike from Peter Murphy which was enough to take the points and lift the home side off the bottom of the league table, and put them within striking distance of Ashton should they picked up points from the games in hand.

Despite the loss Ashton once again battled gallantly in atrocious conditions with driving rain churning up an already sodden pitch, which forced both teams into long ball game. The inability to convert several chances once again cost Ashton dearly, and although Norton have been improving of late with a win over Chadderton last week, and on Boxing Day and had the points snatched away from them by league leaders Winsford United in the closing minutes by late strikes, this is a match that the Ashton players will feel was there for the taking.

The opening stanza was an even contest with both teams probing for openings, but it was Ashton’s Simon Gallanders who had the first effort on goal, cutting in from the left to force Norton’s keeper Dean Latham into action with a straight forward stop. More good work by Gallanders down the left enabled a quality cross that Latham palmed away at full stretch and off the forehead of Richard Sharpe who was lining up a goal bound header.

Norton responded as a lapse in the Ashton back four allowed Peter Murphy to break clear however his shot skimmed wide. The ground conditions were starting to take their toll and Ashton’s attempts to play through the midfield were being thwarted, whilst the more direct play of the home side was proving to be the better option and enabled them to build a period of pressure. From a corner in the 18^th minute Norton’s skipper Tony Kirk rose highest but put his header straight at Ashton keeper Hewitt.

Then after 23 minutes a re-taken free kick was swung in from the left by Caruthers skidding through the packed penalty area to Murphy at the back post, who beat two Ashton defenders to the ball and finished first time, leaving Hewitt stranded in the Ashton goal.

For the remainder of the half Ashton upped their game as Richard Sharpe shot over the top and then the Norton keeper, Dean Latham kept the lead intact with a great diving save to keep out a Hitchen volley that was bound for the bottom corner. From the subsequent corner Hitchen turned a half chance wide.

As half time approached another half chance for Ashton as a great diagonal ball from Steve Rothwell reached Sharpe who headed inches wide. HT 1-0

"SHARPE-BY-NATURE" WINS THE HEADER AND GETS A NICE ELBOW IN THE NECK FOR HIS PAINS.

Sharpe got behind the Norton back four in the 70^th minute and raced clear but his effort was fired wide before Gallanders repeated the feat before into the side netting. Ashton kept up the pressure and a close range header was scrambled away while Pete Tarpey cut inside from the left before driving wide.
When Norton did break out Tom Larusso made a good run but the keeper was quickly out to grab the ball off his toes. John Jackson tested the keeper from long range with a firm strike whilst Chris Pattison had a speculative volley saved.
Norton could have sealed the victory when substitute Dean Wylie fired narrowly wide following a good counter attacking move involving Caruthers and Jackson.
Dean Latham then became a Norton hero with four outstanding late stops in the last 10 minutes saving from a barrage of shots from Peter Tarpey in the 82^nd and 86^th minutes, Richard Sharpe in the 85^th minute and blocking at close quarters from a Tom Potter effort in the 88^th minute.

Ashton’s last chance came when the tireless Adam White finally had the inspirational Norton keeper beaten only to be denied by a last ditch clearance off the line by Liam Rigby to deny Ashton a share of the spoils which was the least they deserved after such a spirited second half performance. FT 1-0

Man of the match awards went inevitably for Norton to the keeper Latham, whilst Ashton’s Steve Rothwell picked up yet another award for his efforts and motivation of his team in frustrating circumstances, with the energy and commitment of midfielder White pushing him close.

Ashton’s Reserves fared better as they picked up a point from a 1-1 draw at home to Daisy Hill reserves as Louis Hughes continued with his good goal scoring run of 3 in 3 games, since joining the Club from Vauxhall Motors, and is shaping up for a first team call up in the near not too distant future.

Next Saturday Ashton have a tough home match against promotion chasing Padiham whilst the reserves have, at the moment a blank weekend. END