Ashton grind down high flying Millers

Tuesday 26^th February 2008

Vodkat League 2

Ashton Athletic 1 New Mills 0

Runaway Vodkat League leaders New Mills FC were brought down to earth at a blustery Brocstedes Park by a terrific battling performance by Ashton Athletic, capped off by a superb headed goal from Paul McVeigh with his first touch of the game having joined the fray only minutes earlier.

With Derbyshire side a massive sixteen points clear of Ashton in third spot and 12 points ahead of second placed Kirkham it was crucial for all the chasing pack that the Miller’s relentless charge for the title was dented, and that Ashton did.

Early pressure with the wind at their backs, and the mobility of the New Mills forwards put Ashton on the back foot and early attempts by Hooper from the edge of the box and a Jackson header from a corner were placed wide before Ashton mounted an attack when Simon Gallanders played in Tom Potter whose shot on the angle skimmed past the far post.

More New Mills territorial advantage caused Ashton keeper Joe Clayton to work overtime dealing superbly with several high balls into the box under intense pressure from the Millers’ attackers, and then in the 17^th minute a finger tip save from Clayton touched a long range effort from Shaun Roscoe onto the bar and away to safety.

Ashton came back into the game with Dave Sherlock making an impact down the Ashton right, but the New Mills defence squeezed out the attacks until a Simon Gallanders shot from the edge of the box beat the defence but was placed wide.

Millers Carlos Meakin had the visitors’ best chance of the half in the 32st minute but he placed his shot wide of the target before Ashton’s best chance fell to Sherlock who got behind the Miller’s back line before unleashing a hard and low shot that was arrowing toward the bottom corner before Millers keeper Stuart Williams got down sharply, forcing the ball up and over the bar. HT 0-0

The second half saw Ashton take full advantage of the elements pinning New Mills back in their own half in the opening exchanges. Gallanders split the Millers defence and Potter drilled his cross along the 6 yard line, and a half clearance by Jackson fell to Sherlock whose first time volley screamed wide. Chris Lawton then had a crack from 5 yards into the opposition half which had keeper Williams scrambling across goal to tip the effort around the post. A Steve Bennett cross again found Potter free in the box but his powerful shot was blocked by Mike Ryan.

New Mills were having to play on the break but some slack passing allowed the Ashton defence to cope comfortably with the attacks and mount pressure on the New Mills defence. A Dave Sherlock free kick caught the wind and again had the keeper working overtime to save and concede a corner. In the 65^th minute Sherlock dispossessed substitute Melford Knight in midfield, drove forward before placing his curling shot inches wide with the keeper beaten.

The introduction of Ashton top scorer Paul McVeigh in the 68^th minute proved the deciding factor as with his first touch of the game he met a perfect cross from Potter with a stunning header into the top corner of the goal to nudge the home side in front.

Chasing the game New Mills committed more men forward in an attempt to break through the solid Ashton defence and in the last 10 minutes had more efforts on goal than in the whole of the previous 80 minutes. A great free kick from Danny Hooper came and a thunderbolt from Millers’ skipper Mike Ryan crashed against the bar whilst a series of goal mouth scrambles had to be dealt with by Ashton. It was not all one way and more composure on the break by Ashton could have allowed an increased margin as several good positions were not fully exploited. Then in the final minutes as Ashton broke debutant Phil Hardman was brought down in the box and with the linesman indicating a penalty referee Dalal who otherwise had a splendid game surprisingly blew up for full time rather than a spot kick. FT 1-0

Millers’ skipper Mike Ryan and Ashton’s Chris Lawton won the man of the Match awards, on a night for defenders and not for the faint hearted.

Ashton have another home match on Saturday with Eccleshall the visitors, 3pm KO whilst New Mills have a blank weekend before another difficult away trip at Bootle another one of the chasing pack.

Excellent Match Photos of match available to view / purchase on line at www.celebritypixuk.co.uk

Blackburn Rovers sign Ashton’s teenage prospect

Ashton Athletic player Alex Marrow has been snapped up by Blackburn Rovers having impressed during an extended trial period with Rovers since the New year.

Having previously made a number of first-team appearances for Ashton Athletic in Vodkat League Division Two, and starred throughout the last two seasons in the Club’s youth team Marrow will now look to follow in the footsteps of Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire, who was plucked from now defunct North West Counties League outfit Great Harwood Town several years ago after slipping through the local scouting network as a schoolboy.

The 17-year-old midfielder - a part-time plasterer from Astley, Greater Manchester - has already played for Blackburn's Under 18s, and he earned a 20-minute run-out in the reserve team victory over Manchester United last Thursday. Blackburn have moved quickly to offer Marrow a contract until the end of the season

Teenager Marrow was handed his big chance at Rovers by manager Mark Hughes after commendations from Blackburn’s scouting network and following a recommendation by Rovers reserve team boss Glyn Hodges. With Rovers fighting against the Premier League's top clubs for the best local talent, Blackburn have admitted that they are being diligent to explore every opportunity to uncover a potential hidden gem.

Meanwhile Ashton Athletic General Manager David Powell acknowledges that “from Ashton Athletic’s point of view he will be sorely missed especially by our youth team who have made it to the final of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup at the end of the season and are still currently pushing for League honours. Alex has also shown his prowess in the North West Counties League and will also be a loss to the Club in the future as we endeavour to climb the league pyramid. “

“However he is a great lad and his teammates and managers, John Bentley and Paul Cunliffe have supported him all the way. Everyone at the Club is delighted for him and keeping fingers crossed that he gets a full contract in the Summer”

SEMI FINAL STALEMATE FOR ASHTON

Vodkat League Two Trophy Semi-Final Fist-Leg

Ashton Athletic 0, Kirkham & Wesham 0 (HT: 0-0). Att: 60.

STRONG winds created far from ideal playing conditions at Brocstedes Park on Saturday, for this Semi-Final First Leg of the league Trophy. The clash turned out to be somewhat of an anti-climax from the two teams currently positioned 2^nd and 3^rd in the league.

Kirkham, with eyes fixed very much on next week’s lucrative FA Vase Sixth Round tie with Coventry Sphinx, seemed rather subdued which Ashton turned to their advantage gaining the upper hand in terms of possession and territory, and creating the better of the chances to have broken the deadlock at various stages of the game.

It was however Kirkham that had the first, and arguably the visiting sides best chance of the match as Mick Horsfall got free in the 2^nd minute but a good block from Ashton keeper Clayton denied him.
Mark Court had an early chance after 10 minutes after good wing play from Simon Gallanders allowed an opening for Danny Burrows to fire in a cross that was only partially cleared to Court who placed his shot wide from just inside the 18 yard box.

Adam White then threaded the ball through the Kirkham defence to the on rushing Dave Sherlock who beat keeper Pete Summerfield with his shot but unfortunately it was also pulled inched wide of the post.

Kirkham hotshot Mark Wane broke loose from the Ashton shackles in the 21^st minute but Ashton keeper Clayton stood tall to force him wide, and from a narrow angle the shot was easily played away to safety by recovering defender Paul Bohannan.

Ashton forced Kirkham onto the back foot forcing a series of rushed clearances and corners, from one such set play and with 10 minutes remaining in the first half Ashton almost took the lead. Paul Bohannan won the first ball and a half clearance only reached as far as Chris Lawton whose looping header from 10 yards was cleared off the line at full stretch by Kirkham defender Allan Jackson.
Pete Summerfield made a number of smart saves low down to thwart Ashton’s Sherlock, McVeigh and then Gallanders during the second half whilst Clayton in the Ashton goal had a relatively quiet time dealing efficiently with Kirkham’s advances.

Ashton continued to probe for a goal to give the home side a first leg advantage but long range efforts from Gallanders and Dave Sherlock in the last 10 minutes failed to trouble Summerfield.

When Ashton sub Paul TownsHend glanced a header wide on the whistle it was Ashton’s last chance to take a lead to Kellamergh Park in a fortnight’s time for the second-leg.

Ashton move on to a midweek tussle against run away league leaders New Mills on Tuesday Night, 7.45pm Kick off at Brocstedes Park. Meanwhile Kirkham start their preparations for the massive FA Vase tie at home next Saturday.

Chadderton 2 Ashton Athletic 0

Vodkat North West Counties Football League

Wednesday 20^th February 2008

Chadderton closed the gap on 3^rd placed Ashton with two second half strikes from Neyru McKenzie and Arren Sutcliffe on Chadderton’s skating rink of a pitch on Wednesday night.

The game rearranged from Monday due to a frozen pitch was still in doubt right up to kick off time as concerns over player safety on a thawing but still solid surface were assessed by referee Dalal.

The game was finally given the go ahead however the first half conditions dominated the game with both teams showing hesitation in the tackle, and some players finding it difficult to stay on their feet. Chances were few and far between with the set pieces at both ends seemingly the best chance of the deadlock being broken but the defences held firm. Ashton’s best effort came early in proceedings as Tom Potter unleashed a terrific volley that Chadderton keeper Swanson tipped away. For Chadderton Neyru McKenzie forced Andy Paxton into action, to make a smart save.

The second half produced more purposeful football with both sides on the face of it getting more accustomed to the gradually thawing conditions. It was Chadderton that drew first blood as a slick passing move opened up the Ashton defence and resulted in a Paul Ashton cross that was met with a crisp finish by the influential McKenzie in the 57^th minute.

With tails up Chadderton were dominating in midfield and McKenzie broke free again to unleash a powerful drive that keeper Andy Paxton could only parry into the path of the on rushing Arren Sutcliffe who finished with ease after 63 minutes.

Ashton finally regained a foothold in the match and a series of corners almost produced a goal for Danny Burrows, stealing in at the back post to head wide from a Dave Sherlock corner. Substitute Steve Bennett then got behind the diligent Nick Fraine and his cross was met on the six yard by Paul McVeigh but his effort was stopped by Swanson.

Chadderton were now playing on the break and Phil Edghill almost made Ashton pay for chasing the game but his shot was placed wide after getting through the Ashton back line.

Ashton’s efforts to get back into the match never waned and additional corners were forced and once again almost brought just reward as a superb in swinging corner from Tom Potter had Swanson at full stretch again plucking the ball out of the top corner of the goal. Then with 5 minutes remaining Chris Lawton headed wide from close range.

A disappointing result for Ashton that put pay to a solid three game unbeaten run however the team can now look forward to a first leg Vodkat Trophy semi final tie against Kirkham and Wesham this Saturday 23rd February at Brocstedes Park, Ashton 3pm KO.

END

Chadderton re-scheduled for this wednesday

Following the postponement of Monday nights match at Chadderton due a to a frozen pitch a new dates has been quickly arranged and the game has been re scheduled for this Wednesday 20th February 7.45pm KO.

Sherlock brace knocks the spots off Stone

Vodkat NWCFL Division 2

Stone Dominoes 1 Ashton Athletic 2

Saturday 16th February 2008

Dave Sherlock continued his fine form with two poachers goals in a tight match to secure the three points that maintained Ashton’s position in third place of the Vodkat league.

In a match with few clear chances Ashton started brightly with some good possession football, visibly buoyed by the extra time quarter final cup victory at Oldham in midweek. An early effort by Simon Gallanders was parried by keeper James Hall and Paul McVeigh picked up the loose ball and fired a shot on the turn that defender Alex Baird did well to block. Stone’s Michael Meszaros broke free down the Stone right wing forcing Ashton keeper Paxton into a good stop. Despite Ashton’s early territorial advantage Stone were looking dangerous on the break and a one such counter attack forced a free kick just outside the box. The in swinging delivery by Andrew Matthews was glanced by James Curley past Paxton into the top corner to give the home side the lead after 11 minutes.

Ashton’s response was immediate as debutant Gareth Peet crossed from the left and under pressure from Paul McVeigh the defensive header was only half cleared and fell to Dave Sherlock who volleyed the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards in the 13^th minutes.

It was not until the 40^th minute that the subsequent stalemate was broken as first Paul Townshend, followed by Paul McVeigh and Simon Gallanders finally broke away from their markers to unleash shots in quick succession that all flew agonisingly over the cross bar. Just before the break Stone also had a chance to regain the lead as Mike Meszaros and then James Curley were denied by a double save from Andy Paxton. HT 1-1

The second half was also a tight affair with both defence keeping the upper hand, however as Ashton persevered with more patient build up play the pressure on the Stone back line started to mount. A slick passing move down the right involving Steve Bennett got Paul McVeigh in behind the defence and his left foot shot was well smothered by keeper Hall. Then a driving run down the left by substitute Potter ended with a powerful shot that Hall tipped away to safety.

Just as the game seemed to be meandering towards a draw Sherlock was once again in the right place at the right time as a lofted ball into the box was only half cleared by Stone and Sherlock pounced to score from 10 yards in the 79^th minute.

Stone committed men forward in the final minutes but Ashton’s resolute defence held firm to secure maximum points. The man of the match awards went to Ashton’s Simon Gallanders and Liam McKinney for Stone. FT 2-1

Ashton move quickly on to a Monday night Vodkat league fixture away at Chadderton 7.45pm KO before entertaining FA Vase quarter finalists Kirkham & Wesham in the League Trophy semi final first leg at Brocstedes Park, Ashton on Saturday 23^rd February 3pm KO.

Bennett books semi final date for Ashton.

Vodkat Trophy Quarter Final

Tuesday 12^th February 2008

Oldham Town 2 Ashton Athletic 3 AET

Ashton secured a place in the two legged semi final of the Vodkat League trophy with an impressive and gutsy performance at Oldham Town this week.

Oldham started the game on top, with near misses from James Curley and Stuart McGill whilst an early Adam White long range effort was placed narrowly of target after good wing play by Dave Sherlock.

It was Ashton’s 18 year old wing man Sherlock who drew first blood with a stunning 25 yard shot that swerved and dipped its way into the top corner after 23 minutes to give Ashton the lead. Ashton hit a purple patch and 3 minutes later Sherlock was through on goal again, set loose by Simon Gallanders however his efforts to round the keeper narrowed the angle and his shot struck the far post and bounced to safety. Then Paul Townshend picked out Sherlock to deliver a pin point cross met at full tilt by Tom Potter whose trademark first time shot from the edge of the box crashed against the post and as the rebound fell kindly to Gallanders a despairing block by Town skipper Schofield deflected the shot inches over the bar.

Oldham responded as the lively James Curley broke free from his markers grasp and one on one with Ashton keeper Joe Clayton placed his shot wide. As the half time approached Oldham poured men forward in search of the equaliser and forced Clayton into a series of superb saves that preserved his team’s lead into the half time break.

The second half got underway with both sides playing at a high tempo but the defences kept the upper hand before a well worked short free kick to James Curley gained 10 yards and his shot fizzed over the bar. Then, in the 58^th minute Ashton’s man of the match Simon Gallanders unlocked the Oldham defence with a perfectly weighted through ball to Townshend who took advantage of a favourable bounced in a block challenge with Oldham keeper Matty Blair and slotted the ball into the empty net.

Oldham would not lie down and probed for chink in the Ashton defence, and finally broke through in controversial circumstances following a dubious free kick awarded against Ashton. The resulting set piece was directed towards keeper Clayton who rose to catch the ball only to be bundled to the floor by two Oldham attackers, and as the Ashton players claimed the foul Stuart McGill nipped in to put the ball into the back of the net and reduce the deficit in the 63^rd minute.

Oldham threw caution to the wind but try as they did the Ashton defence would not budge and also had chances to increase the lead on the break. Another refereeing blunder in the 4^th minute of stoppage time as referee Foster back up by his assistant initially signalled for an Ashton goal kick, then a sudden change of mind and a corner was awarded much to Ashton’s frustration. The corner was only half cleared and as the ball was retuned into the crowded box it fell to Oldham’s Damien Schofield to grab an unlikely equaliser and send the game into extra time.

An early burst of attacking football from Ashton in the first period in extra time brought its reward as the fresh legs of substitutes James Lawless and Steve Bennett combined superbly down the Ashton right, and a great run and cross by Lawless reached Bennett who made no mistake from the six yard box to nudge Ashton ahead again.

With both teams showing signs of exhaustion the extra time became a stop start affair and chances were few and far between and with the excellent Ashton defence holding firm Oldham’s endeavours petered out allowing Ashton to progress.

The Oldham victory means Ashton now face a challenging semi final contest against FA Vase quarter finalists Kirkham & Wesham on Saturday 23^rd February at Ashton’s Brocstedes Park with return leg scheduled for Saturday 8^th March at Kirkham.

However before that it is back to Vodkat league action with back to back away trips to Stone Dominoes this Saturday 16^th February, 3pm KO followed quickly by a visit the Chadderton FC on Monday 18^th February 7.45pm KO.

Ashton undone by Dunn double strike

Vodkat North West Counties League

Ashton Athletic 2 Norton United 2

A lively start by Ashton and two early goals from Dave Sherlock and Chris Lawton were not enough to secure maximum points as they were cancelled out by two James Dunn efforts that found the back of the net, in a pulsating first half.

Ashton’s first goal was crafted by Paul Townshend, returning to action after a long injury lay off, with a perfect through ball that reached Sherlock who produced a clinical finish past the Norton keeper after just 2 minutes. Tom Potter then found room down the left wing breaking clear before blasting the ball goal ward, but this time the Norton keeper was up to the task and the effort was parried wide. At this stage Ashton were finding a way through the Norton with some ease and Sherlock was played in by Steve Wallace after 14 minutes, whose pin point cross was cooly dispatched by Chris Lawton to put Ashton two up.

Ashton continued to dominate and Sherlock almost grabbed his second rounding the keeper after latching on to a Potter through ball, but the keeper did enough to force Sherlock wide and the attempt was placed across the face of goal with no attackers advanced enough to take advantage.

After this early dominance by Ashton the game was turned on its head as Norton rose to the challenge whilst Ashton rested on their laurels. In the 24^th minute Norton’s James Dunn drove in a corner at pace and somehow defenders and the Ashton keeper Andy Paxton were wrong footed and the effort squeezed past Paxton and over line. A series of fouls and misplaced passes by Ashton allowed Norton the opportunity to build on the first goal and in the 37^th minute a slow reaction to a loose ball on the edge of the box gave the lethal left foot of Dunn enough room to steer the ball through a crowded penalty box and into the bottom corner. HT 2-2

The second half had both teams tightening up at the back, and Ashton did this most effectively preventing any more serious work by Paxton. On the other hand Ashtons attacks had more of a cutting edge but the back of the net could not be found, with three long range efforts by Clive Locke marginally off target whilst Ashton looked to have got the breakthrough as Mike Burke got a foot to a deep cross by Tom Potter in the six yard box, but over stretching he could only steer the ball wide of goal.

With time running out Ashton continued to press for the winner and substitute James Lawless almost grabbed the accolades as a Simon Gallanders through ball fell nicely for Lawless but his attempted lob over the stranded Norton keeper drifted agonisingly wide. FT 2-2

A point each for both promotion hopefuls, and this maintain Ashton’s position in third spot whilst Norton consolidated in the chasing pack.

On Tuesday night Ashton are in cup action, with a quarter final match at Oldham Town, 7.45pm KO

New Reserve manager appointed

Following the recent departure of Lee Blackshaw, Ashton have moved quickly to fill the position of Reserve Team manager, with the appointment of Chris Richardson.
Chris, a qualified FA coach has playing experience at North west Counties and Unibond level before he was forced into premature retirement due to recurring injury problems.
The Club wishes Chris every success with the opportunity.

Friendly fixtures announced

Ashton will face Unibond North high flyers Skelmersdale United at Skelmersdale's Ashley Travel Stadium this Wednesday 6th February 7.45pm KO in a hastily arranged friendly, to keep the side active following the postponement of the Oldham match last Saturday.

Meanwhile a fixture blank for the reserve team this Saturday 9th February has been filled with a trip to West Lancs League side Thornton Cleveleys FC, 2.30pm KO.