After the performance against Mossley the lads should have needed no encouragement to continue our rich vein of form. Sadly it was a total opposite display and one we told the lads was totally unacceptable.

- Ashton Athletic Joint Manager, Jay Foulds

Ashton Athletic welcome Toolstation Northern Counties East Premier Division side Athersley Recreation to Brocstedes Park in what promises to be an exciting Buildbase FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round match.

The Yellows were on a good run of form with victories against Hanley Town and Padiham in the league and then a magnificent 7-2 victory in the Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round against EvoStick North Division 1 side Mossley AFC, until they were brought crashing down to earth with a massive bump when they turned in a lethargic performance in a 3-1 defeat against a rejuvenated AFC Darwen side who were looking to make their way up the table to avoid another relegation battle.

Bobby Langford put AFC Darwen in the lead with a 23rd minute goal but the scores were level 4 minutes later when an Adam Howard cross was put into his own net by a Darwen defender. Bobby Langford gave the visitors the lead again in the 35th minute and Jonathan McDonald made the game safe with a goal on 51 minutes. Ashton huffed and puffed and started to get a foothold in the game in the last quarter of the game but it was too little too late from the Yellows, knowing that they will need to greatly improve if they want to get anything out of Saturday's game.

Athersley Recreation come into the game on the back of a 4 game unbeaten run. Since a 3-1 defeat at home to Harrogate Railway Athletic, The Penguins have won 3 and drawn 1, scoring 9 and conceding 4. Their last game was a 1-0 victory away at AFC Mansfield. Samuel Bebbington grabbing an 85th minute winner leaving Athersley 3rd in the table but having played more games than the teams around them.

The Yellows will be looking for a better run in the Buildbase FA Vase than they had last season when they were beaten in this round by Atherton Collieries. After a 0-0 draw at Brocstedes Park, Paul Watson put Ashton ahead in the 5th minute of the replay at The Kensite Stadium before Mark Battersby levelled the score on 30 minutes and James more put Colls into the lead 4 minutes later. Mark Battersby made the game safe with 10 minutes to go and the Yellows were out of the competition.

Ashton Athletic Joint Manager, Jay Foulds:

"After Tuesday's performance Saturdays can't come quick enough. After the performance against Mossley the lads should have needed no encouragement to continue our rich vein of form. Sadly it was a total opposite display and one we told the lads was totally unacceptable. We trained on Thursday and that's the end of it. We now focus on continuing our good cup form as we begin another potential Wembley trail. We have a few absentees due to weddings and injury but it's a good opportunity for some of the young lads to step up and show what they can do. If we play like we can I'm sure we will progress to the next round."

Ashton Athletic Last 6 Games
06/09/16 - AFC Darwen (H) L 3-1
03/09/16 - Mossley AFC (H) W 7-2 Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying round
31/08/16 - Padiham (A) W 4-2
27/08/16 - Hanley Town (H) W 3-2
23/08/16 - Worksop Town (H) D 2-2 AET (Ashton won 4-1 on pens) Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Replay
21/08/16 - Worksop Town (A) D 2-2 Emirates FA Cup Preliminary

Athersley Recreation Last 6 Games
07/09/16 - AFC Mansfield (A) W 1-0
03/09/16 - Staveley Miners Welfare (A) D 2-2
31/08/16 - Retford United (H) W 5-2
27/08/16 - Armthorpe Welfare (H) W 1-0
24/08/16 - Harrogate Railway Athletic (H) L 3-1
20/08/16 - Rainworth Miners Welfare (A) W 4-2