2006-2007 Player of the year Awards

Congratulations to all the players for a solid years work following the Club's return to the North West Counties League after a 20 year absence. Despite the jump of two divisions both first and reserve teams held their own and caused several upsets throughout the season with well deserved wins against promoted Runcorn and third placed Padiham the stand out performances in the league showing the potential for the future.

New players joined the Club and integrated successfully with the existing playing staff and at the end of the season the Club is well placed to move onward and upward.

Local cup success at both ends of the season with the Hindsford trophy secured in August and then the victory in May against rivals Ashton Town to take the Atherton Charity cup capped things off for the team.

Individual awards for the players were presented. Roll of Honour:-

Golden Boot - Paul McVeigh (28 goals)

New award for all players achieving the target of 25 goals in a season in all competitions. Despite an enforced mid season break through injury Paul McVeigh reached top form towards the back end of the season, the highlight being his 5 goal haul in the Atherton Cup semi final.



Presidents Award - Peter Hitchen

Versitility leadership and commitment to the cause throughout the whole season enabled Peter Hitchen to pick up the the President's award for the Outstanding Club player.







Chairman's Award (Young Player of the Year) - Adam White

With no less than 9 under 21's pulling on a first team shirt on a regular basis this season, the Chairman was faced with his most difficult decision since the award was introduced 5 seasons ago.
The winner, Adam White worked hard in the reserves to earn his place in the first team in the Autumn Thereafter he established himself quickly and became a crucial cog in the team with his outstanding work rate and no shortage of quality.




Reserve Team Player's Player of the Year - Joe Brobbin

17 year old keeper Joe Brobbin developed tremendously throughout the season and earned 12 first team call ups with many outstanding displays for the reserves. The high standard set in the reserves earn him his fellow players' accolade.





Reserve Team Player of the Year - Mike Hamilton

A welcome back to action in mid season for reserve skipper Mike Hamilton. Consistently high standards recognised by the reserve managers.








First Team Players Player of the Year - Steve Rothwell

First Team Player of the Year - Steve Rothwell

Double success for veteran Steve Rothwell who clocked up 43 league and cup matches, added to 8 pre and mid season freindlies took his tally for the season above 50 games, a remarkable achievement for any player and a great example for others to follow.
Recognition from fellow players and the management was backed up from outside the Club as Steve's high level of consistency throughout the season also caught the eye of many opposition managers, as Steve also bagged 9 man of the match nominations.

Goldline Draw 2007 lines up pre season Derby

GOLDLINE TROPHY DRAW

23/05/2007 The draw was made for the 2007/08 Goldline Trophy at Bolton Wanderers` Reebok Stadium.

The Wanderers have been staunch supporters of this competition for clubs in and around the Bolton area since in started in 1998, the final having been held on the Premiership clubs ground since 2000.

Attendances for the Goldline Trophy final have varied between 1,000 and 2,500 - more than most County Cup finals and even Step 3 League Cup finals.

The competition is organised on a group basis, four groups of four clubs playing each other once, with the group winners going through to the semi finals.

For the last few seasons Radcliffe Borough have made their ground available for the semi-finals and the final, of course, will be played at the Reebok Stadium.

Total prize money available to clubs this season is up to £500 each, but that is only part of the tale, with free or half price kits available, free balls, the use of a sports car for a week for the Player of the Match in the final and all sorts of other bonuses.

Clubs are also given plenty of opportunities to raise money for themselves during the course of the competition. Some take those chances and do well while others prefer to just enjoy the football.

Five North West Counties clubs, six from the West Lancs League and five from the Manchester League will contest next seasons Goldline Trophy.

No fixtures have been arranged yet, with the West Lancs League starting very early next season on 4th August, it doesn't give their member clubs much time to fit in their group games pre-season.

The groups are:-

Group 1 - Atherton Collieries, Charnock Richard, Hindsford, Stoneclough

Group 2 - Atherton Town, Eagley, Euxton Villa, Prestwich Heys (Holders)

Group 3 - Atherton LR, Bolton County, Breightmet United, Daisy Hill

Group 4 - Ashton Athletic, Ashton Town, Elton Vale, Tempest United

The pairing of the two Ashton clubs will see a repeat of the Atherton Charity Cup final earlier this month, and another bumper crowd is anticipated as the local rivals lock horns again.

Atherton Charity Cup Final 2007

Ashton Town 0 - 1 Ashton Athletic

The final was contested between the two highest scoring teams in the competition with 33 goals between them. Surprising then, that Ashton Athletic won the Charity Cup this year in a keenly contested final at their local rival's own ground with a single own-goal!
In a match of very few clear cut chances, the goal came in the 79th minute from a defender's head when a lofted through ball by Simon Gallanders was contested by the competition's leading goalscorer Paul McVeigh. Defender Matt Gregory got his head to the ball, only to see it lob over the advancing keeper Heseldine, one bounce and into the back of the net.

Latic's skipper Rothwell lifts the Cup


Athletic, despite being reduced to 10 men in the 59th minute had the better of the play running up to the goal, and other opportunities with Steve Bennett striking the bar and Paul McVeigh coming close on several occassions, whilst long range efforts by Gallanders were off target. Town's best efforts came through Phil Howard and Chris Mcnally but the mainly long range efforts failed to trouble the assured Joe Brobbin in the Athletic goal.
It was a disappointing end to a spirited performance by Ashton Town, but a happy conclusion for the team with the best defensive record in the competition.
Man of the match performance went to Athletic's midfielder Simon Gallanders, whilst Town defender Chris Ward won his sides' accolade.

Man of the match Gallanders with his awards

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 23RD JUNE 2007 2PM

THE CLUB IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS YEARS AGM WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE CLUBHOUSE ON SATURDAY 23RD JUNE 2007 AT 2PM. All members welcome.

Atherton Charity Cup Final Thursday 17th May 2007

FOR UP TO DATE NEWS AND MATCH REPORTS FROM 18TH MAY 2007 PLEASE RETURN TO THE HOME PAGE AND CLICK ON FIRST TEAM NEWS

Ashton Athletic will meet near neighbours Ashton Town in the final of this season's Atherton Charity Cup. Town overcame a spirited effort by Lancs Amateur League outfit Tyldesley United in their semi final last Thursday, eventually running out 3-1 winners.
The Final will be played on Thursday 17th May 2007 at Ashton Town's Edge Green Street ground, 7.45 kick off.

Tuesday 8th May - 5 Star McVeigh blasts Breightmet

AAFC 5 Breightmet United 2 - Atherton Cup Semi final at Atherton Collieries FC

Ashton striker Paul McVeigh is certainly getting a liking for the Atherton Charity Cup, having bagged 4 in the earlier rounds he fired his team into the final with a remarkable feat of scoring all 5 of the Ashton goals in this semi final tie against Manchester Premier Division outfit Breighmet United. .
Ashton started the game staged at the neutral ground of Atherton Collieries on the front foot and good early pressure brought instant reward as McVeigh capitalised on a goalkeeping error in the 2nd minute to put Ashton ahead. 1-0
A great passing move across the part and a defence splitting pass then put in Richard Sharpe one on one with the Breightmet keeper but his effort was off target.
In the 5th minute Breighmet forced a corner which was delivered into the box and under severe pressure Ashton keeper Brobbin spilled the ball, however the shot was skied over the bar.
from the next attack in the 6th minute Simon Gallanders split the defence and found McVeigh rampaging through on goal, and a toe poke over the advancing keeper brought further reward and increased Ashton's lead. 2-0.
Ashton were now in total control and in the 20th minute went three up as McVeigh grabbed his hatrick with a sharp turn and finish from just inside the box. 3-0
Ashton kept up the pressure and made it four with the best goal of the match as fluent passing found steve Wallace wide on the right and his text book near post cross was met perfectly by McVeigh who finished hard and low in style. 4-0 HT

With the result al but guaranteed, congratulations to Breightmet for keeping at it in the second half but it was Ashton again that drew first blood as Matt Mahoney broke clear down the left and as he drove into the box he was up ended by his marker, penalty awarded without any hesitation by referee Karl Evans. No doubt who was going to take the spot kick as McVeigh stepped forward to slam home his, and his teams fifth of the nightin the 49th minute. 5-0
Ashton visibly took the foot off the gas and this allowed Breighmet a respite that then allowed them to push forward in search of consolation, but the Ashton defence was in determined mood to deliver a clean sheet.
it was niot until the 80th minute that Breighmet finnaly got reward for their endeavours as a quickly taken free kick just outside the box in the 80th minute caught Ashton on the hop and allowed Clint McLoughlin to slide the ball into the goal, as keeper Brobbin was lining up the wall and waiting for the whistle from the referee, that never came. 5-1
With the job all but done Ashton relaxed in the last 10 minutes, but this gave Breightmet more time to pour forward and exert pressure on the Ashton penalty area and from a half clearance Rob Howarth swooped to fire in another goal from the edge of the box in the 86th minute. 5-2
A comfortable result for Ashton with the MoM undoubtedly Paul McVeigh, however the work rate and quaility of the play from the rest of the team especially in the first half enabled an excellent all round team performance.

PRESENTATION EVENING Friday 4th May 2007

PRESENTATION EVENING

First and Reserve Teams

CLUBHOUSE

Friday 4^th MAY 2007

7.00 p.m. Kick off

All welcome

Saturday 28th April 2007 Leek CSOB 3 AAFC 3

Ashton took to the road to Leek for the last game of the NWCFL season already knowing that improved results in the middle and latter half of the season had ensured that a relegation place had been avoided, and the first season back in the league after 20 years had been completed with a good foothold established to build from in future seasons.
There was a clear determination evident to complete the league programme with maximum points and in prolonged spells Ashton produced some of their best flowing football of the season against a Leek CSOB team comfortably place in mid table, however a 5 minute lapse of concentration by the Ashton defence, just after half time prevented a win to finish off the season.

Leek also look determined to play out the season with a win, to give their retiring secretary a good send off after 50 years service to the Club. Leek had the first chance with Mark Fox breaking forward and his shot was half blocked by Steve Rothwell and fortunately Joe Brobbin read the deflection to save well.
In the 6th minute a great header from Martin Rigby crashed against the bar and although Paul McVeigh was first to react to the re bound his effort was straight at keeper Gavin Deauville.
Matt Mahoney was then neatly set up by Matt Mahoney whose effort was pulled wide.
Then in the 12th minute good movement by Fox from a Steve Millington flicked header created space on the edge of the box and with Ashton slow to close down he was allowed to cut back onto his favoured right foot to smash the ball into the bottom corner giving Ashton keeper Brobbin no chance. 0-1
Ashton maintain composure and worked back into the game and for the rest of the first half played some expansive football that brought due reward.
Tom Potter having another impressive game at left back got forward and produced a rasping shot that Deauville tipped around the post at full stretch. Paul McVeigh then popped up at he back post reading a Ste Wallace freekick but having seen the ball late through a crowded box his header was placed wide.
As the pressure on Leek was building they were restricted to counter attacking and from one such foray they forced a free kick from which the ever dangerous Anthony Tarr peeled off his marker but headed over the top.
Ashton's dominance finally brought the equaliser as Martin Rigby stole in around the back latching onto a perfect cross from Ste Wallace to score with his head in the 34th minute 1-1.

34th minute Rigby equaliser

Then 5 minutes later after more good build up play down the right Steve Wallace produced another superb cross that this time was met by striker Paul McVeigh and headed into the roof of the net to give Ashton the lead 2-1.
Leek were starting to flag, on a hot afternoon and Ashton took advantage as a cross from Tom Potter this time found Steve Bennett beyond the back post who unselfishly played the ball back across the goal for McVeigh to bag his second, and Ashton's third in the 41st minute. 3-1


McVeigh at the Double

As half time approached Leek fought back and from a corner Brobbin was forced into action managing to half clear the delivery but before a Leek player could get to the ball Simon Gallanders was on hand to clear to safety. HT 3-1

With their managers voice no doubt ringing in their ears the Leek team came out fighting and started to build some pressure of their own.
Forced onto the back foot a soft free kick was conceded and delivered into the Ashton box, and slack marking enabled Steve Millington enough time at the back post to reduced the deficit for his team in the 44th minute. 2-3
Deja vous as another cross from the left side again found Leek's Tarr free in the box and the unopposed header forced a save from Brobbin however the rebound fell to a grateful Mark fox who made no mistake to claim his second of the game to even up the scores in the 49th minute. 3-3
Leek gained confidence and continued to push for another with a Matt Bradbury header put over the bar as a result of good defending by Paul McVeigh whilst Steve Millington also header over getting on the end of a good cross from the left wing in the 58th minute.
Ashton made a series of substitutions and the fresh legs once again turned the tide and allowed Ashton to dominate the final 25 minutes with several good opportunities worked, one of which fell to Pete Tarpey in the 80th minute, whose flick header from a Richard Sharpe cross went close.
Then a controversial moment as an Ashton set piece was perfectly executed by Tom Potter driving in a curling free kick across the face of the goal, and with the distraction of runners moving along the defensive line the keeper froze and the free kick sailed into the corner of the goal. As Ashton celebrated what they though was the winner the assistant referee raised a late flag and the goal was disallowed.
Unperturbed the Ashton team drove forward and first another Martin Rigby header was just off target before Ashton were denied by a post and a goal line clearance in the dying seconds of the game.
The point would have been considered a good result away from home but not on this occasion as a strange result with Daisy Hill winning away from home at 3rd place Padiham, and a great fightback by Holker against Norton allowed both rivals to leapfrog over Ashton in the final league standings.
An eventful season for Ashton and with 9 under 21 players turning out regularly for the first team during the season, several others in the reserves and an excellent under 17 team in the background the year's experience can only be of benefit as the team grows into competing at this level of football.

Roll on 11th August for the start of the new NWCFL season!..... but before that the semi final of the Atherton Cup awaits Ashton, against Breighmet United from the Manchester League on Tuesday 8th May 2007, 7.45pm KO at Atherton Collieries.