WOODLEY FRIENDLY CANCELLED

Friendly fixture v Woodley Sports has been CANCELLED as a result of the postponement of Ashton's Division 2 Trophy match on Saturday.

The cup tie against Oldham Town has now been re arranged for the same date, Tuesday 12th February 2008 at Oldham's Whitebank Stadium, 7.45pm KO

Rothwell and Lawton see red as Ashton defence Leeks goals

Ashton Athletic’s promotion push took a set back at the weekend at Leek CSOB as two players saw red from Preston based referee Stephen Foster, leaving Ashton to competing with 10 men for 15 minutes and then 9 men for the last 40 minutes. The dismissal of Skipper Steve Rothwell in the 35^th minute at the behest of linesman Stuart Winley came after he reported Rothwell for an alleged elbow on Leek’s Michael Machin, something that no one else at the match saw, and even the Leek player was perplexed as he had been complaining about being caught on the shin in a tackle.

This strange turn of events just added to the agony for Ashton as they had already gone 1-0 down to a Mark Fox long range shot that beat debutant keeper Joe Clayton in the 13^th minute, whilst Ashton were noticeably out of sorts, seemingly ruffled by the direct approach of Leek and the aerial power of strike partners Anthony Tarr and Paul Rutter.

Before this, Ashton had been denied an early lead themselves as a Chris Lawton long throw was headed against his own goalpost by a Leek defender at full stretch, under pressure from the Ashton strike force.

Leek’s early aerial bombardment and highly aggressive start to the game seemed to have been stemmed, especially when the hugely influential Tarr was helped from the field with concussion following a freak clash of heads with Ashton’s Chris Lawton as both players challenged for yet another high ball. Despite having made a genuine attempt to win the ball Lawton’s challenge was deemed to have been worthy of a caution from referee Foster, a harsh decision on Lawton who was also nursing a bad head and one which would have ramifications later in the match.

Goal scoring opportunities were few and far between for both sides with defences on top with Ashton limited to a Dave Sherlock volley which skimmed the crossbar in the 32^nd minute before leading scorer Paul McVeigh squandered Ashton’s best effort steering a Sherlock cross wide from close range.

Rothwell’s dismissal followed shortly afterwards and his presence was missed sorely on the stroke of half time as a free kick from 40 yards out was allowed run through a crowded penalty area and Leek’s captain Dan Hyde popped up at the far post for the easiest of finishes. HT 0-2

As the second half got under way, despite being a man down Ashton appeared more spritely and started to play with more purpose and a higher tempo. However any possibility of an unlikely comeback was stopped dead its tracks as a clumsy challenge by Lawton was considered worthy of another yellow card, as opposed to a “calm down” chat from referee Foster and as a result he too was removed from the field of play leaving his 9 remaining team mates stunned.

Despite this latest setback the Ashton rear guard battled on and created a few openings as Leek’s full compliment relaxed, with Tom Potter coming closest to reducing the deficit with a great strike that Leek keeper Gavin Deaville did very well to tip around the post.

Leek’s numerical advantage was held at bay until in the 70^th minute a long clearance eventually reached Paul Rutter who finished clinically with Ashton screaming for offside, a plea ignored by the reticent officials.

Ashton did not give up and tried manfully to get some form of consolation from the game but Leek’s extra numbers were always on hand to block off any half chances. In the dying seconds and with Ashton’s tired legs starting to show another long ball out of the Leek defence reached Mark Fox who bagged his second of the match and capped off a miserable day for the Ashton team. FT 0-4

Ashton must rally quickly in time for next Saturday’s Vodkat Division Two Trophy Quarter final at Oldham Town, and this will be aided by an early opportunity to get the Leek debacle out of the system with a friendly match at Unibond League outfit Bamber Bridge FC. The game on Tuesday 29^th January at Brig’s Irongate ground will kick off at 7.30pm. The beleaguered team received a much needed boost with news that the Reserve team had produced a terrific win against second placed New Mills Reserves with Paul Townshend, returning from his injury lay off finding the net twice to take all three points.

Additional friendly v Bamber Bridge Tuesday 29.01.08

Ashton will play Bamber Bridge FC from the Unibond League in a freindly on Tuesday 29th January February 2008. The game will take place at Brig's Irongate Ground, Brownedge Road,
Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire PR5 6UX, Kick off at 19.30 .
Follow link to http://www.bamberbridgefc.co.uk/index.htm for directions.

Friendly fixture v Woodley Sports announced for Tuesday 5th February

Ashton will play Woodley Sports from the Unibond League in a freindly on Tuesday 5th February 2008. The game will take place on Woodley's 3G Astroturf pitch at Lambeth Grove, Woodley, Stockport, Kick off at 19.45 . Follow link to http://www.woodleysportsfc.co.uk/ for directions.

Cheadle Town 1 Ashton Athletic 3

Ashton Athletic took full advantage of being the only Vodkat League Division 2 fixture to beat the weather by taking maximum points in a 3-1 win at Cheadle Town. The away win allowed Ashton to leapfrog promotion rivals Chadderton and Kirkham & Wesham to draw level on points with 2nd placed Oldham Town.

On a heavy pitch it took both teams a while to acclimatise to the conditions and first half chances were few and far between. Cheadle perhaps had the clearer sights at goal without really troubling 'latics keeper Andy Paxton, as strike partners Mike Myers and Dean Martin came closest with speculative efforts, Martin's first effort producing a routine save by Paxton.

Ashton's best effort followed excellent build up play as a Mike Burke cross field ball found Steve Wallace free down the right, and what seemed like a pin point cross to the far post agonisingly skipped past striker Paul Mcveigh who was straining for the slightest of contacts that would have given Ashton the lead. HT 0-0

The second half was a different matter with both teams playing some excellent attacking football that belied the ground conditions. First, Cheadle came out of the blocks with Andy Lindon shooting wide after picking up the rebound from a Dean Martin strike which had been well saved by Andy Paxton, the first of a series of crucial saves throughout the half.

This provoked Ashton into greater endeavours and in the 52nd minute another great cross from the right by Steve Wallace reached Pat Aspinall at the far post whose deadly finish gave the visitors the lead. 1-0

Two minutes later Dave Sherlock followed the trend set by Wallace and delivered another telling cross that was met sweetly by Chris Almond, however this time the header flashed over the bar with Cheadle Town keeper Peter Mellor rooted to the floor.

Cheadle fought to get level and a long range shot from Dean Martin made Paxton work in the 50th minute, before Ashton's Aspinall once again stole in down the left, forcing Cheadle keeper Mellor into a superb reflex save to turn the ball around the post.

Ashton poured forward and the introduction of substitute Tom Potter produced immediate return as his long distance shot screamed towards the top corner only to be turned away by keeper Mellor with another fine save. The loose ball was picked up by Wallace who crossed early onto the head of centre half Chris Lawton who grabbed his 4th goal of the season and increased Ashton's lead. 2-0

Cheadle would not lie down and Ashton's keeper Paxton was back in the action again firstly after 67 minutes to save a Johnny Hussain powerful left-footed shot and then an even better stop low down from an Andy Lindon free-kick on 75 minutes. Two minutes later Martin got free again but Paxton was once again on hand to block the shot.

As Cheadle committed more men forward Ashton took advantage of more space to play and a Chris Weeder snap shot was well saved again by keeper Mellor and then Paul Mcveigh shot inches over after another Wallace cross from the right.

Ashton finally put the game to bed in the 89th minute as top scorer Paul Mcveigh grabbed his 19th goal of the season in all competitions with a brave header, beating the on rushing Peter Mellor to a speculative through ball after a scuffed clearance by the Cheadle shot stopper. 3-0

With all three points secure a lapse in concentration allowed Cheadle sub Scott Flanagan a sniff at goal, an opportunity gleefully accepted, rounding the 'keeper with one of the last kicks of the game to make the scoreline a more respectable 3-1

A great second half performance by Ashton was essential to keep up the pressure at the top and it is easy to see how this spirited Cheadle side have troubled and taken points from promotion rivals Kirkham and Chadderton earlier in the season.

Ashton have another away trip next weekend to Leek CSOB, weather permitting.

Physio / Sports Therapist urgently required

Following the loss of Sports Therapist Leighanne Dunkin, who has moved on to work with Conference North team Southport FC, Ashton are seeking a replacement physiotherapist or Sports Therapist.

Interested parties should contact David Powell on 07770 696747.

Five up as Ashton bounce back

Ashton Athletic 5 Holker OB 2

Ashton bounced back from last weeks reverse at Kirkham with a resounding win over Holker OB, which put to an end the Barrow based club's 4 game unbeaten run.

Ashton dominated throughout and in the end produced a comfortable win but Holker always looked dangerous on set pieces and a couple of defensive lapses in concentration gave the visitors a sniff of a point until Ashton put the foot back on the gas in the last 25 minutes.

Early chances came and went for Ashton with Paul Mcveigh, Mike Burke and Dave Sherlock whilst Sherlock also had a perfectly excecuted goal chalked off by an over enthusiatic linesman despite being behind the ball and ball carrier, Chris Almond when the cross was squared to him.

The pressure was mounting on the Holker defence and the inevitable breakthrough came in the 36th Minute as Paul McVeigh pounced onto a loose ball in the box to put his team ahead. 1-0

A minute later Mike Burke produced a peach of a cross for McVeigh whose powerful header struck the inside of the post but unfortunately ran away to safety.

Ashton increased the lead in the 39th minute as another pin point cross found Chris Almond in space and he guided his header into the top corner. 2-0

As half time approached referee Parsons awarded Holker a dubious free kick just before the half time break and a lapse in concentration combined with a decent delivery into the box allowed Holker to peg one back. The free kick was allowed to cross the face of the Ashton goal and fall to centre half Chris Squirrell whose first time finish left the Ashton defence stranded. 2-1

Holker worked hard in the early stages of the second half preventing Ashton from getting back in their stride and in the 60th minute another harsh free kick was awarded against Ashton with the ball having been won cleanly and another deep cross was met at the back post by Holker skipper Graham Capstick who headed back across goal and found Chris Squirrell who headed the ball into the top corner for his second of the match. 2-2

Ashton response was instant and a great cross ball from Dave Sherlock reached Chris Weeder beyond the back post and as he played the ball back across goal towards Paul Mcveigh a mix up between defender and goal keeper resulted in the defender slicing the ball into his own net. 3-2

This time Ashton kept the foot on the gas and pushed forward to kill off the game and the introduction of Sub Tom Potter helped increase this momentum. Shortly after he joined the match Potter played a great through ball to Dave Sherlock who rounded the onrushing keeper Stephens for a tap in after 80 minutes. 4-2

Sherlock then grabbed his second 3 minutes later from another cross by Tom Potter, steaming in at the back post to produce a powerful shot that gave Stephens no chance. 5-2

A high quality attacking performance for Ashton consolidates the position in fifth spot and sets things up for next weeks journey to play Cheadle Town.

The Ashton reserves went down 1-3 to table toppers Glossop North End but not without a fight as a goal from Martin Ormesher threatend an upset before Glossop made it safe with 20 minutes to go.

Ashton Athletic go down at Kirkham but hold onto their fifth league position

Vodkat North West Counties League Division Two

Kirkham & Wesham FC 2, Ashton Athletic 0 (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: - Kirkham & Wesham: Sheppard (28), Wane (55)
Attendance: 105

ASHTON ATHLETIC travelled to the Kirkham 2 points in arrears to them at the top of the Vodkat NWCFL, however two uncharacteristic defensive mistakes in each half presented the home side with the 3 points that put clear daylight between the promotion contenders. Other results elsewhere however allowed the ‘Latics to maintain the 5^th league spot, as closest rivals Chadderton slipped up at basement Club Holker, whilst Oldham Town and Bootle fought out a 2-2 draw.

Sloppy marking by Ashton from a throw in and then a sliced clearance presented Kirkham midfielder James Sheppard with the ball in space on the edge of the box who curled in a 28th minute wonder goal that nestled into the top corner and gave Ashton ‘keeper Andy Paxton no chance.
Whilst the game was mainly fought out in the centre of the field Kirkham did carve out several other openings through the lively attacking combination of Sheppard, Mark Wane, Phil Blackwell and the league’s leading scorer Sean Paterson, but some solid defending kept Kirkham at bay.
Ashton’s usual cut and thrust was misfiring throughout the first half as several promising breaks petered out as a result of forced passes, and raids from Paul McVeigh and Chris Almond were easily dealt with by a resolute home defence. Ashton’s best opening came on the half an hour as winger Chris Almond lined up a shot from close range but home skipper Phil Thompson slid in to block the effort.
HT 1-0

The second half was much more of a contest with Ashton visibly upping the tempo and pushed the home side back. However it was Kirkham clearly adept at playing on the break who almost increased their league as Phil Blackwell rattled the Ashton woodwork in the 52^nd minute and then whilst in control of the game a misjudged pass across the Ashton back line was intercepted and Mark Wane pounced in the 55^th minutes finishing after a shot that Paterson had just been saved by Paxton.

Despite the body blow Ashton continued to push and efforts from Paul McVeigh Tom Potter and substitute Chris Weeder were well gathered by keeper Peter Summerfield before Ashton were screaming for a penalty in the 68^th minute after Kirkham’s Tony Keefe clipped the heels of the advancing Ashton forward inside the box.

Then the game was effectively over as in the space of two minutes Ashton’s busiest forward Almond received his marching orders following two quick yellow cards, both of which could and probably should have been dealt more leniently by the over officious Referee Mark Green.

Ashton must now regroup for the visit to Brocstedes Park of Holker next Saturday 12^th January 2008 3pm KO.