Unlucky Yellows Return Home Pointless

The match started on the cautious side, both teams playing attractive football without pressurising either goal. That all changed after 18 minutes when Shaun Airey committed a foul out wide on the Barnoldswick left adjacent to the penalty area, and it proved to be costly as Paul Casey swung the ball into the home sides penalty area, The Barlick goalkeeper seemed to be collecting the ball comfortably on his goal line, but then he allowed the ball to bounce out of his grasp into the path of Martyn Jackson three yards out, Jacko quickly prodded the ball past him into the net to put the yellows into the lead.

The game continued in its same vein until the 31st minute when a Lewis Jordan shot from a corner was cleared off the line at the far post by Jay Waldron, after 35 minutes further Town pressure won another corner on the Ashton right, Liam Blades cross was met at the far post by Airey who thundered a header from on the 6 yard line towards goal, but once again Barlick were denied by the full back on the line this time Paul Casey clearing.

The home side equalised less than a minute later, Bradley crossed from out wide to around the penalty spot, Dave Moran running out of goal never made it, and Mark Threlfall nipped in between goalkeeper and defender heading over the stranded keeper Dave Moran into the net.

As half time approached Boyle carved out a great opening, pulling the ball back to the penalty spot to an unmarked Threlfall, but his unchallenged shot was blazed over the bar.

The half time whistle went with both sides prodding at each other without testing the others defence.

HT 1-1

The start of the second half brought more goalmouth action, Barlick winning two corners in succession, both caused no problems for the Ashton defence.

At the other end poor defending by the Town defence saw Martyn Jackson find Danny Smith unmarked on the edge of the penalty area, but the ball just would not sit right for the Ashton wide man and this allowed Nettleton to make a last ditch tackle to block the shot.

Barlick scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 52nd minute in somewhat bizare circumstances, a Blades cross came in just inside the Ashton penalty area, it was slightly behind Threlfall so his header looped up towards Moran’s goal, with everyone expecting the ball to clear the bar for a goal kick it dipped under the bar into the net, leaving Dave Moran and his defenders stranded and widemouthed in disbelief of there luck.

Danny Smith for Ashton was causing all kinds of trouble for the home side and he jinked into the Town penalty area but sliced his shot wide when he should really have hit the target.The same player then should have been given a penalty as the Barlick centre half man handled him in the area, but because Danny tried to stay on his feet the referee waived play on to the home sides relief.

Four minutes later (65) a poor Jordan square ball went straight to Connor Gately who put in Danny Smith once again, he raced towards the Town goal with the home defence unorganised, Nettleton made two brilliant tackles inside the home penalty area to retrieve the situation to the delight of the home crowd.

With threequarters of the game gone Ashton skipper Mark Rogers had a good chance to eqaualise after a corner but his shot was hit over the bar. Barlick then made their first substitution (76) Martin Broderick making way for Ashley Alderson. But it was the Ashton substitute Dave Berry who tried his luck with a 25 yard thunderbolt, thankfully for the home side it was straight at the goalkeeperh who gathered the ball comfortably in his midrift, any where else and it would have been the equaliser the yellows deserved.

it was all one way traffic at the moment but to there credit Barlick battled well and when Alderson won a tackle on the halfway line he sent Threlfall through on goal, but his shot was weak and Dave Moran managed to clear the ball. A minute later Threlfall headed Boyle through on goal but once again Dave Moran was equal to his shot and saved the day.

At the other end Nettleton had to clear a Connor Gately shot from almost on the goal line to stop us drawing level.

With 5 minutes left on the clock Barlick forced a corner and decided the best form of defence was to keep the ball in the corner and try and see out time.

Although Ashton did have one late flurry the referee's whistle sounded and our trip to Banoldswick Town ended in a defeat

FT 2-1

Lots of positives to take from the game for the yellows and we will look to keep up the improvement with the visit of Runcorn Town FC on Tuesday night.