AAFC Youth v Wigan Athletic Youth friendly

The proposed friendly on Wednesday 2nd January 2008 has been canceled due to the saturation the pitch received last week and over the weekend, and particular the extent of the damage done before the abandonment of Saturday's Vodkat League fixture.

It is hoped that the fixture will be reorganised for later in the season or as a pre season friendly next year

Derby defeat and beat by the weather!

Ashton lost ground on the leading bunch in the Vodkat North West Counties League Division Two after a Boxing Day Derby defeat at Ashton Town, and then torrential rain on Saturday forced the abandonment of the Eccleshall match after 40 minutes. With the other top sides all recording positive results the Latic’s dropped three places to fifth spot.

The Ashton derby was a game of few chances on a heavy pitch and a Paul Prescott strike in the 23^rd minute was enough to give the home side maximum points. Ashton Athletic’s best chances fell to Mike Johnson in the first half, well saved by Town keeper James Heseltine. Whilst in the second period Athletic dominated possession, creating several good chances that fell to Tim Lees, Mark Ashurst and Mike Johnson but all failed to find the target and denied the Latic’s a share of the spoils.

Last Saturday Ashton Athletic entertained Eccleshall hoping to hold on to third spot but frustratingly the referee made the very unpopular decision of abandoning the game after 40 minutes claiming dangerous conditions, despite the fact that both teams were playing decent football, without a single bad tackle in the match.

All the more frustrating for Ashton as they had played into the teeth of a gale and driving rain in this first period, and had prevented Eccleshall any clear sight of goal whilst for Ashton James Lawless, Mike Burke and a couple of efforts from Chris Almond were all near misses.

As a result however Ashton have lost ground and must get something from next Saturday’s crucial away trip to 2^nd placed Kirkham & Wesham FC, 3pm.

Meanwhile Ashton’s Reserves fought out a 3-3 draw at Flixton FC with goals from Paul McVeigh, Pete Tarpey and Andy Morgan securing a well deserved point ahead of a home game next Saturday against Cheadle FC, 3pm KO

Four star Ashton shoot into 2nd spot

Saturday 22^nd December 2007

AAFC 4 Leek CSOB 0

Ashton returned to league action at the weekend and secured the three points that takes them into second place in the Vodkat North West Counties Division Two.

Saturday’s visitors, Leek CSOB had no response to Ashton’s fire power and Chris Almond opened the scoring in the 15^th minute from a cross by Pat Aspinall which found the head of Almond at the far post, who made no mistake. 1-0

A cross from the right by Steve Wallace after 25 minutes then found Almond at the near post but this time his first time shot flashed wide.

Leek fought back forcing a series of free kicks and corners but the Ashton defence held firm with Leek’s best effort coming from Michael Machin with a curling free kick that Andy Hewitt tipped over the bar in the 35^th minute. Almond then provided a cross from left that wingman Dave Sherlock slotted the wrong side of the near post.

Ashton increased their lead as smart work down the left by Simon Gallanders sliced through the Leek defence and a composed pass to the back post found Mike Johnson who kept a cool head to place the ball into the net. 2-0 HT

Ashton started the second half brightly as Gallanders again broke free and cossed to the near post wher Almond once again got their first but his acrobatic volley skimmed the top of the bar.

Leek’s Darren Baker was then played in by Anthony Tarr but his shot was sliced wide when it had seemed easier to score. Andy Hewitt was once again called upon and a double save in the 52^nd minute first from Tarr and then from Paul Rutter kept Ashton’s lead intact.

The result was then put beyond any doubt as Chris Lawton slammed home Ashton’s third from 10 yards after a goal mouth scramble fell kindly to him in the 65^th Minute. 3-0

Substitutes Mark Ashurst, and debutants Clive Locke and James Lawless were introduced and the fresh legs continued to exert pressure on the staining Leek defence. Teenager, Lawless broke down the right on several occasions showing his great potential whilst Locke was in the thick of it with two early strikes from advanced positions.

Leek introduced their own substitutes who wrestled back some of the play and one of the replacements, Gareth Rowe forced Andy Hewitt to make another great save in the 81^st minute.

The icing on the cake for Ashton came in the 85^th minute when Clive Locke again found a good position in the box and this time curled the ball across the keeper and into the top corner. 4-0 FT

A great all round performance from the Ashton side with some top draw performances none better then striker Chris Almond who was a thorn in Leek’s side throughout the game, and who claimed Ashton’s man on the match. Leek’s top man was full back Nick Lewis a consistent performer throughout.

The result moves Ashton up a place into second spot ahead of Oldham Town but still 8 points adrift of runaway league leaders New Mills and it will be essential that this form is maintained over the holiday period and into the New Year in order close the gap with the leaders.

The Boxing Day derby match against Ashton Town now beckons for the Latics with a 3pm kick off at Edge Green Street, quickly followed by a home match against Eccleshall FC on Saturday 29^th December 3pm KO.

NEW YEAR TREAT FOR ASHTON'S YOUTH PLAYERS

WEDNESDAY 2nd JANUARY 2007

ASHTON ATHLETIC v WIGAN ATHLETIC

The Wigan Athletic Youth team will be welcome visitors to Brocstedes Park for a friendly fixture against Ashton's own Youth players on Wednesday 2nd January 2008 7.30pm KO.

This will be a great opportunity for the Ashton lads to pit their skills and wits against budding Premiership players and it hoped that a decent crowd will turn up to support both teams even though Wigan's senior team are away at Liverpool on the same night.

Busy Christmas period ahead.

Following a blank Saturday last week, with the Chadderton pitch failing to thaw out from the overnight frost, Ashton look forward to 3 games in a week starting this Saturday 22nd December when Leek CSOB are the visitors to Brocstedes Park.
The local Boxing Day clash with Ashton Town follows at Town's Edge Green Street ground and then on Saturday 29th December 2007 its back to Brocstedes when Eccleshall are the visitors. All the matches are Vodkat League Division Two fixtures and are all 3pm Kick offs.

Meanwhile the reserves are in action this Saturday with a trip to Nelson FC and then another away fixture at Flixton FC on Saturday 29th December 2007, both 3pm kick off.

Smyth double sinks Ashton's County Cup hopes

Two Mark Smyth goals secured a victory for Leigh RMI in the Quarter Finals of the Lancashire FA Co-Operative Challenge Trophy against a spirited effort from their hosts Ashton Athletic.

After scoring twice in the previous round's 4-2 win over Clitheroe at Hilton Park, former Liverpool striker Smyth continued an impressive run in the competition with a stylish all round display as he excellently linked up with fellow front men Leon Osborne and Richard Chetcuti throughout the evening.

Hosts Athletic, four divisions below RMI but with just one league defeat currently seeing them well placed in third place of the North West Counties League Division Two, made a bright start with a Dave Sherlock shot narrowly deflected wide of the Leigh goal in the first few minutes.

Leigh’s own young striker Osborne, a bright performer in RMI's previous cup encounter at Burscough a couple of weeks ago, had RMI's first chance when blazing over the crossbar before Ashton came within a whisker of taking the lead when a miscued shot from Tim Lees ballooned bizarrely on to Saynor's crossbar after twenty minutes, with the rebound falling kindly to the follow up player, Chris Almond but unfortunately for Ashton he could not keep his header down and it sailed over the crossbar.

Ashton dictated matters in the opening quarter of the game but Leigh gradually worked their way back into the match with their midfield trio of Steve Settle, Neil Carroll and former Athletic youth team player Sam Fairhurst became increasingly prominent.

RMI took the sting out of Ashton’s endeavours with a two goal blast shortly before the forty minute mark. First, Steve Settle released full back Jon Goulding down the right flank, before the impressive full back crossed for man-of-the-match Sam Fairhurst to knock the ball in from close range

Within a minute of Fairhurst's strike, RMI doubled their lead and effectively killed off the game when Smyth set off on a solo run on the right hand touchline before cutting inside and sending an unstoppable left foot shot curling past goalkeeper Andy Hewitt and into the top corner to give Leigh a comfortable advantage at the break.

HT 0-2

Ashton’s Tom Potter broke clear early in the second half and flashed a shot across the face of the goal but it slid just past the far post. Not long after the Railwaymen extended their lead to three goals and put seemingly put the result beyond doubt when a superb Osborne through ball beat the attempted off side trap and put Smyth in the clear to smartly dribble around the goalkeeper and slot the ball in to the empty net.

Ashton battled on striving to gain a foothold in the match and the hard work paid off as, with fifteen minutes remaining substitute Chris Weeder scrambled the ball home from inside the six yard box.

As Ashton poured forward in an attempt to get another back gaps started to open for RMI to exploit Smyth was denied a hat trick by a smart save by Andy Hewitt before Osborne smashed a terrific volley against the crossbar. The final chance for Leigh fell to substitute Andy Wright who blazed an effort over the top from close range.

The full time whistle heralded what in the end was a comfortable win for the visitors but had one of the early Ashton chances been converted in the first half who knows how the higher league opponents might have reacted.

The victory and with it passage to the semi final of the competition will no doubt be a certain boost to Leigh’s confidence ahead of Workington's visit to Hilton Park on Saturday for the FA Trophy First Round tie

Meanwhile Ashton can take substantial positives from the performance especially the never say die attitude in the second half and can look forward to Saturday and the Vodkat League clash at Chadderton in a 3^rd v 4^th contest, 3pm KO.

Ashton Man of the Match was awarded to Mike Burke.

COOP LANCASHIRE CHALLENGE CUP QTR FINAL

Ashton's eagerly awaited quarter final tie against Leigh RMI of the Blue Square Conference North WILL go ahead tonight at Brocstedes Park,7.45pm KO.
After the weekend's wash out the rain has finally abated and dry weather of the last two days has enabled the Ashton pitch to dry out sufficiently. Ashton will be hoping for major upset as they line up against a Club competing 4 leagues higher in the non league pyramid system, although Leigh currently occupy bottom spot in their division.
Leigh may rest a few players with one eye on the FA Trophy tie against Workington Town scheduled for this coming Saturday, but a stern test will still be the order of the day for Ashton in this first ever Derby match between the two local Clubs.
Gates will open at 6.30pm.

Ashton bounce back with Vodkat Trophy win and inflict double whammy on Padiham as Ashton's Reserves follow suit

Saturday 1^st December 2007

Vodkat Division 2 Trophy Round 2

Padiham 1 Ashton Athletic 2

Ashton bounced back from the disappointing Goldline semi final defeat last Monday with a hard fought win against Padiham FC, as two second half goals from Ashton secured progress in the Division Two Trophy, and a quarter final tie on 2^nd February 2008, at Oldham Town.
Padiham looked the sharper at the start, and opened the scoring in the 5^th minute from the first clear chance of the game. A neat build up down the left flank allowed a far post cross that was only half cleared, and dropped kindly to Neil Almond in space on the edge of the box. Although he scuffed his shot fortuitously it landed at the feet of Stuart Telfer, who tucked the ball neatly under Athletic keeper Andy Paxton from four yards out.
The visitors hit back five minutes later when a Tim Lees shot was acrobatically tipped on to the crossbar by Padiham keeper Gavin King.
At the midway point of the half, the Padiham woodwork was rattled once more, this time by home defender Andy Hargreaves, who was relieved to see his header under pressure from a Tim Lees free kick into the penalty area which beat his own keeper before rebounding back into play off the crossbar.
At the other end, Padiham created two good chances in the space of a minute. After a Stuart Telfer shot was blocked by the outstretched foot of Athletic keeper Paxton, Ben Walker was unlucky to see his shot from a Dave Holt cross just miss the target.
Padiham’s lively strike force of Dave Holt and Tom Pickersgill were causing the visiting defence problems, and they were involved in most of their side’s goalscoring opportunities as the half wore on.
After Pickersgill just failed to connect with his strike partner’s low cross in the 25^th minute, he played an incisive pass through the Ashton defence to put Holt clear through on goal, but he shot straight at the keeper who did well to hold the ball at the second attempt.

Ashton’s normal threat was only shown in glimpses and one such moment occurred in the 26^th minute as a Simon Gallanders cross reached Paul McVeigh but his header was smothered by King.
The Padiham forward duo then linked up on 36 minutes, a neat inter passing movement setting up a chance for overlapping full back Ben Walker, whose shot was deflected into the side netting.

The visitors had rarely threatened during a first half where they were second best, but once the second half began they began to enjoy the better of the possession and drew level in the 55^th minute.
A quick break down the right wing caught the Padiham back off guard and when Tim lees got on the ball 25 yards from goal he threaded an inch perfect ball into the penalty area for Athletic’s Paul McVeigh to take in his stride and plant the ball into the corner of the net from ten yards.
Padiham hit back with a long effort from Martin Broderick that flew wide, and then Stuart Telfer outpaced the Ashton defence to fire in a low cross that keeper Paxton gathered in the six yard box as Pickersgill waited to pounce.
However, at the midway point of the second half, it got worse for Padiham when the visitors took the lead with a stunning goal from full back Mark Ashurst.
There seemed no danger when a ball into the box was cleared by the Padiham defence, but when the ball came to Ashurst he unleashed a dipping shot on the volley from 25 yards that flew past the outstretched hand of Padiham keeper King and crept in just under the crossbar.
Padiham pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and long range efforts from Neil Almond and Stuart Telfer flew wide of the target before a promising run by Tom Pickersgill into the box was halted by a terrific saving tackle from Athletic’s Mike Burke as the Padiham shaped to shoot.
As the game reached an exciting finale, a great run from Athletic’s Chris Almond down the right set up a chance for Paul McVeigh, but the striker saw his shot saved by the keeper.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Padiham’s Neil Almond came agonisingly close to pulling his side level when his shot from the edge of the box through a crowd of players beat Ashton keeper Paxton and rebounded off the post.

Man of the Match for Padiham was Steve Pickup with a terrific defensive play to frustrate Ashton especially in the first half, whilst Ashton full back Tom Potter eased out midfielder Tim Lees to grab the Ashton award.

Meanwhile the Ashton Reserves inflicted double agony on Padiham by eliminating their reserve team from the Vodkat Reserve Division Cup - Match report below

Ashton Athletic Reserves 3 Padiham Reserves 1

Ashton reserves got a cracking win over high flying Padiham in the Reserve Division Cup. With the Ashton starting to gel after last week's hard earned draw against Blackpool Mechanics, they picked up the pace of their attacking game from the start against Padiham, making inroads down both flanks and looking likely to score on every trip down field.

The 1^st half dominance showed and eventually produced dividends as James Lawless opened the score with a smart finish after a whipped in cross from the right left the defense on the back foot.

The second half saw Padiham come out fast looking to get back in the game and grabbed the equalizer before Ashton took control again with high work rate and some great individual skill creating several openings before Ashton finally broke the deadlock. This came midway through the half as Steve Park hit a left foot curling shot from 20 yards that nestled into the top corner and put Ashton in front again. Then Martin Ormesher put the game beyond doubt with a delightful chip from the edge of the box.

Padiham tried to fight back Ashton’s superb defence held firm to secure Ashton’s passage to the next round.

Man of the match for Ashton was James Lawless

The Reserves can now look forward to the local derby game at Ashton Town this Saturday in the Vodkat Reserve Division.

DO WE NOT LIKE ORANGE!!

GOLDLINE TROPHY SEMI FINAL at Chorley FC

Monday 28^th November 2007

Euxton Villa 2 Ashton Athletic 0 [AET]

A healthy crowd at Victory Park enjoyed a ding dong cup tie that saw Euxton Villa of the West Lancs League progressed to meet Charnock Richard FC in the prestigious Goldline final at the Reebok in the New Year.

Euxton had to dig deep into their reserves to edge out Ashton and had some inconsistent refereeing and in particular two controversial decisions by the officials to thank for gifting them the result. The first of which could have won the game for Ashton in the last 10 minutes of normal time as a Paul McVeigh header was chalked off by the linesman. A 30 yard thunderbolt from Adam White came back off the underside of the bar and on the turn McVeigh reacted first, peeled off his defender following in the shot to bag the rebound and head the ball into the net. The late flag by the assistant referee was flawed but the referee had no option but to concur and without question ordered the goal to be disallowed.

Then midway through the first period of extra time a two handed push on an Ashton player was completely ignored by the referee despite being on top of the incident and perversely a free kick was awarded to Euxton in a dangerous position 15 yards outside the Ashton box. A quality delivery was delivered into the box, evaded two would be clearers of the ball for Ashton as they were “nudged” out of the way and instead the ball dropped onto the edge of the six yard box, hit the leg of Euxton’s Sam Bolton and trickled into the corner of the goal to give Euxton the all important first score.

Euxton played too well and battled too hard to be presented with the result in this way, but that’s football and it is certain that they will gladly accept these flawed decisions and will no doubt point towards being on the wrong end of some bizarre decisions themselves throughout the match but thankfully these proved not to be game deciders.

From the first whistle Villa went on the offensive, with Tom Whittaker flashing a wicked shot across goal from a measured Stuart Bingham pass. Five minutes later, it was George Craddock’s turn to do likewise from the other side in a mirror image move, but neither got close enough to worry Ashton’s keeper Paxton.

The first 25 minutes certainly belonged to Villa with several chances coming and going, but without the Ashton keeper being seriously troubled. Sam Bolton went closest, heading narrowly over from a Mat Atherton corner.

However as the half wore on Ashton settled and began to ask their opponents some serious questions of their own. A whipped in corner had the Euxton defence scrambling and keeper Ross Baxter pulled of a spectacular save low to his left, and the follow up shot was cleared off the line.

A driving run from Chris Almond ended with powerful shot that Baxter turn around his post and then again Almond found room down the left wing to deliver a cross that found the head of McVeigh whose flick reached Simon Gallanders however the ball would not come down quick enough and he volleyed over the top. Just before half time HT 0-0

A more end to end contest unfolded in the second half. Ashton came close to drawing first blood with a great cross that reached McVeigh at the front post but his first time shot flew past the post.

Euxton’s Whittaker combined with Phil Woodman to produce a fine diving save at his feet by Paxton. Minutes later, another Atherton corner found Whittaker in the clear beyond the far post, but his blast from the corner of the box flew inches over.

With the game entering the last quarter, Ashton looked the stronger, with Villa beginning to show signs of the night’s endeavours starting to take their toll. Baxter produced a miraculous double save to turn the ball round the post, and with five minutes of normal time left, a thunderbolt from thirty yards nearly uprooted post and bar, and although the rebound was neatly tucked away by McVeigh, the final strike was from an off-side position – BUT NOT WHEN THE SHOT WAS TAKEN Mr Linesman!

Extra time started with neither side looking like they were content to leave their fate to the dreaded penalty shoot-out as play swung to and fro, but Ashton still looking the fitter and most threatening.

Towards the end of the first period of extra time, Villa were awarded the controversial a free kick forty yards from goal after a foul on an Ashton player! Stuart Bingham delivered a vicious in swinging cross, which neither keeper nor defender could deal with, and Sam Bolton was in the right place at the right time as the ball struck his leg and rolled over the line.

Ashton threw everything at their opponents in the second period, and again hit woodwork, as Chris Lawton showed great agility to get over the ball but his powerful volley from close range rattled the upright with the keeper well beaten. Inevitably, space began to open up as Ashton pushed forward, and a long ball from out of the Villa defence reached Craddock alongside his marker and on the ball. As defender Rothwell caught up Craddock cleverly cut across the defenders line of recovery and accidental contact occurred and Craddock went sprawling to the ground thirty yards from goal. As the referee reached immediately for his back pocket Ashton’s skipper trudged off.

From the resultant free kick, taken from at least 5 yards nearer the Ashton goal than the incident occurred up stepped Damian Stewart, and with as sweetly struck a shot, fired his side into what would prove to be an unassailable position.

A memorable occasion for Euxton and one in which their players gave everything and built on a tremendous display of defending from every department, with shots blocked, passes intercepted and crosses cut off at source. Not surprising that keeper Baxter got the Euxton Man of the Match award although he was pushed all the way by Ross Dickenson with a tremendous effort at Centre half.

For Ashton, who were almost to a man strangely below par particularly in the opening 30 minutes of the game, but the cutting edge of Chris Almond throughout the whole 120 minutes was the Latics’ stand out player.

An extremely disappointing outcome for Ashton but trying to look on the bright side it is another step forward in the Club’s development, reaching the semi final stage for the first time in five attempts – there is always next season!

Quality match photographs available for viewing and purchase at :-

http://www.celebritypixuk.co.uk/slideshow23829.html

Focus must be quickly regained as another cup match is on the horizon this Saturday with a trip to Padiham FC for a second Round Vodkat Division Two trophy match, Kick of 3pm at The Arbories.