We know that in Mossley we are going to face a tough encounter, a league higher and added to that some very good players, we know that we will need to be at our very best if we want to keep our dream alive.

- Ashton Athletic Player/Joint Manager, Ben Kay

Ashton Athletic welcome Mossley to Brocstedes Park in the 1st Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup with both teams in good form in the run up to today's game. The Yellows are unbeaten in their last 4 games and The Lilywhites have only lost 1 in their last 5 matches.

Ashton travelled to the YESSS Electrical Arena to play a good Padiham side who had lost their last 3 matches. It was Padiham who took the lead in the 3rd minute when James Dean put The Storks 1-0 up. Isaac Kusaloka levelled 5 minutes before the break and he put The Yellows 2-1 up 7 minutes after the break in a period when 3 goals were scored in 4 minutes. Joel Brownhill headed in a Danny Smith corner on 54 minutes to make it 3-1 and James Dean got his and Padiham's 2nd in the 56th minute to make it 3-2. Ashton made the game safe on 73 minutes when Danny Regan made a run down the right hand touchline and crossed the ball into the box for a Padiham defender to poke it into his own net to make it 4-2 and denying Isaac Kusaloka a chance to make it 2 hat-tricks in 2 games.

Mossley travelled to Droylsden on Bank Holiday Monday looking to get back to winning ways after losing 1-0 at home to Tadcaster Albion on Saturday 27th August. Thomas Pratt opened the scoring in the 12th minute and Michael Fish made it 2-0 just after half time with a goal on 49 minutes. Thomas Pratt scored his 2nd and The Lilywhite's 3rd in the 75th minute to make the 3 points safe. Stephen Lewis scored a consolation for Droylsden on 80 minutes but Mossley held on comfortably for the win.

This is the first time that Ashton Athletic have made it to the 1st Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup and both teams will be hoping to get a result to put their names into the hat for the next round.

Ashton Athletic Player/Joint Manager, Ben Kay:

"Today's game see's the club making history, as this is the very first time we have made it to the qualifying stages of the FA Cup.

The last 10 days have seen us win 3 games on the bounce, first of all a cup tie that had absolutely everything when we entertained Worksop in the FA Cup replay. A 96th minute equaliser from the unplayable Danny Regan gave us a life line that took the game into extra time which we went on to eventually win on penalties.

Last Saturday saw our first meeting with the impressive Hanley Town who went in at half time 1 up. A few harsh words where said at the interval and to be fair the lads went out in the second half and showed what we can do. Isaac Kusoloka taking the plaudits with a second half hat-trick Finally we traveled to a very strong Padiham who that week had just signed a top player in James Dean from Warrington Town.

Again we started slow and found ourselves one down in the opening 5 minutes and things could of been a lot worse if it wasn't for some excellent saves from big mart. On 20 minutes we turned up and apart from a 5 minute spell in the second half we felt we where totally dominant, another two to add to Isaacs total and a rare header from Joel Brownhill saw us run out 4-2 winners.

We hope you thoroughly enjoy the game and fingers crossed the Yellows are in the hat Monday "

Ashton Athletic Last 6 Games
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
16/06/16 - Bootle (A) L 3-0
13/08/16 - Maine Road (H) D 2-2

Mossley AFC Last 5 Games
29/08/16 - Droylsden (A) W 3-1
27/08/16 - Tadcaster Albion (H) L 1-0
20/08/16 - Hemsworth Miners Welfare (H) W 4-0 Emirates FA Cup Preliminary
16/06/16 - Radcliffe Borough (A) W 4-3
13/08/16 - Kendal Town (H) D 2-2