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Sat 15 Mar 2014
Runcorn Linnetts
First Team
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J Harrison (20'), (53')
HARRISON DOUBLE SINKS THE LINNETS
The Yellows16 Mar 2014 - 09:12
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HARRISON BRACE FIRES ASHTON ATHLETIC INTO THE SEMI-FINALS
After defeating Congleton Town in a replay the previous round, Ashton travelled to cup holders Runcorn Linnets, who currently entertain top spot in the league. Two goals either side of half time from midfielder Jamie Harrison secured Athletics spot in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup.
The game started fairly scrappy, with neither teams creating any chances in the first 15 minutes, Linnets edging the possession slightly, with Ashton comfortably breaking down any attacks that Linnets mustered. Ashton slowly found their feet into the game, and on 20 minutes, Ryan Small was fouled around 25 yards out after some great hold up play. With Linnets fans and players furious with the decision, Jamie Harrison did nothing to brighten their moods. A low, hard free kick back across goal into the bottom left corner wrong footed ‘keeper Robertson, and put Ashton 1-0 up.
Not long after, a searching ball from player-manager Ben Kay down the left hand side was met by the run of Adam Gilchrist, who’s low cross found Ryan Small, only for Small to shoot straight into the Linnets’ goalkeeper’s chest and then cleared. A wasted opportunity.
With the wind behind them, Linnets’ main threat was coming from long balls from Runcorn’s goalkeeper, usually bread and butter for Athletics defence, showing how bad the wind actually was. And this paid dividend in the final 5 minutes of the half, with Linnets’ 2 best chances of the game falling to Hickey after knock downs from 2 high balls, allowing the striker through on goal twice.
With his first chance he opted for power, but pressure from stand-in skipper Ian Rowland and onrushing ‘keeper Jay Foulds forced him to fire high and wide. His second chance was a lot easier, opening his body up, he aimed for the bottom left corner, only to draw out a world class, full stretch save from Jay Foulds.
1-0 HT.
Both teams came out for the second half and immediately Linnets looked to get the ball down and play. Harrison and Kay in central midfield both had to work as hard as ever to try and stop Linnets from playing in the middle of the park, forcing them to pass it around the back in their own half, ensuring a lot of possession, but not making any use of it.
Great pressure from front men Small and Gilchrist, accompanied by Harrison, won Ashton the ball high up the pitch in a dangerous area, resulting in a pinpoint through ball from Gilchrist to Harrison, with the number 6 taking one touch to set himself, and then smash the ball into the top corner, giving Robertson no chance, and putting Ashton 2-0 up on 53 minutes.
Linnets had no answer to Ashton’s resilient attitude and willingness to work hard for each other, with the Ashton defence holding firm to deny any attack Runcorn threw at them.
Tireless midfielder Joe Hull was brought on for Ben Kay, and shortly after, Ashton hit Linnets on the counter attack as a break down the right allowed Small to cross the ball finding Hull in the box, only for Hull to take a touch rather than shoot first time, and then being forced wide by the Linnets’ goalkeeper.
As the game went on, more and more strikers appeared for Linnets, and more and more balls were being pumped up the pitch. With the wind against them now, Linnets found it hard to have any success in the air, with Rowland and young centre-back Holden rising above the Linnets’ attackers on a number of occasions to head clear.
The game was playing into Ashton’s hands, and excluding a couple of tame efforts, there was no real threat to Foulds’ goal.
Tiring legs were not enough to allow Linnets a sniff in the latter stages, and Ashton secured a fully deserved win after a brilliant unwavering performance.
Rochdale Town await Ashton in the semi-final, which is to be played over two-legs. Dates TBC.
STARTING XI
1. FOULDS
2. BROADHURST
3. CASEY
4. HOLDEN
5. ROWLAND (c)
6. HARRISON (GRAHAM)
7. BAILEY
8. KAY (HULL)
9. SMALL
10. GILCHRIST (DOWNING)
11. WILLIAMS
SUBS
12. DOWNING
13.
14. HULL
15. GRAHAM
UNUSED SUBS
16. WATSON
17. PITTS
A BIG THANKS FOR LUKE HOLDEN FOR THE REPORT AND PISTOL PETE FOR HIS EXCELLENT PHOTOS ONCE AGAIN
The game started fairly scrappy, with neither teams creating any chances in the first 15 minutes, Linnets edging the possession slightly, with Ashton comfortably breaking down any attacks that Linnets mustered. Ashton slowly found their feet into the game, and on 20 minutes, Ryan Small was fouled around 25 yards out after some great hold up play. With Linnets fans and players furious with the decision, Jamie Harrison did nothing to brighten their moods. A low, hard free kick back across goal into the bottom left corner wrong footed ‘keeper Robertson, and put Ashton 1-0 up.
Not long after, a searching ball from player-manager Ben Kay down the left hand side was met by the run of Adam Gilchrist, who’s low cross found Ryan Small, only for Small to shoot straight into the Linnets’ goalkeeper’s chest and then cleared. A wasted opportunity.
With the wind behind them, Linnets’ main threat was coming from long balls from Runcorn’s goalkeeper, usually bread and butter for Athletics defence, showing how bad the wind actually was. And this paid dividend in the final 5 minutes of the half, with Linnets’ 2 best chances of the game falling to Hickey after knock downs from 2 high balls, allowing the striker through on goal twice.
With his first chance he opted for power, but pressure from stand-in skipper Ian Rowland and onrushing ‘keeper Jay Foulds forced him to fire high and wide. His second chance was a lot easier, opening his body up, he aimed for the bottom left corner, only to draw out a world class, full stretch save from Jay Foulds.
1-0 HT.
Both teams came out for the second half and immediately Linnets looked to get the ball down and play. Harrison and Kay in central midfield both had to work as hard as ever to try and stop Linnets from playing in the middle of the park, forcing them to pass it around the back in their own half, ensuring a lot of possession, but not making any use of it.
Great pressure from front men Small and Gilchrist, accompanied by Harrison, won Ashton the ball high up the pitch in a dangerous area, resulting in a pinpoint through ball from Gilchrist to Harrison, with the number 6 taking one touch to set himself, and then smash the ball into the top corner, giving Robertson no chance, and putting Ashton 2-0 up on 53 minutes.
Linnets had no answer to Ashton’s resilient attitude and willingness to work hard for each other, with the Ashton defence holding firm to deny any attack Runcorn threw at them.
Tireless midfielder Joe Hull was brought on for Ben Kay, and shortly after, Ashton hit Linnets on the counter attack as a break down the right allowed Small to cross the ball finding Hull in the box, only for Hull to take a touch rather than shoot first time, and then being forced wide by the Linnets’ goalkeeper.
As the game went on, more and more strikers appeared for Linnets, and more and more balls were being pumped up the pitch. With the wind against them now, Linnets found it hard to have any success in the air, with Rowland and young centre-back Holden rising above the Linnets’ attackers on a number of occasions to head clear.
The game was playing into Ashton’s hands, and excluding a couple of tame efforts, there was no real threat to Foulds’ goal.
Tiring legs were not enough to allow Linnets a sniff in the latter stages, and Ashton secured a fully deserved win after a brilliant unwavering performance.
Rochdale Town await Ashton in the semi-final, which is to be played over two-legs. Dates TBC.
STARTING XI
1. FOULDS
2. BROADHURST
3. CASEY
4. HOLDEN
5. ROWLAND (c)
6. HARRISON (GRAHAM)
7. BAILEY
8. KAY (HULL)
9. SMALL
10. GILCHRIST (DOWNING)
11. WILLIAMS
SUBS
12. DOWNING
13.
14. HULL
15. GRAHAM
UNUSED SUBS
16. WATSON
17. PITTS
A BIG THANKS FOR LUKE HOLDEN FOR THE REPORT AND PISTOL PETE FOR HIS EXCELLENT PHOTOS ONCE AGAIN
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