Yellows leave it late

AFC Liverpool started the game with a strong wind at their backs with Ashton allowing them the luxury of having the Lion’s share of the possession providing it was played in their own half of the pitch.
Though they had the lot of the ball from the kick off, the visitors were slow to get things moving, with only Ronnie Morgan’s off target shot their only attempt in the first quarter of an hour. And the game seemed to have a touchy feely kind of feel to it with neither side opening up to much.
Franny Barry fired wide from twenty five yards and from a similar distance, Nevil Picton drilled a shot towards the corner which forced the Yellows keeper Steve Longrigg to turn the ball behind for a corner. The Yellows first real attempt was a shot from the edge of the box that Martyn Jackson stabbed wide.
Five minutes before the break the best bit of play by either side saw the visitors striker Jones showing all his skill as he delightfully weaved his way past a couple of defenders before playing a one two with Buckley and collecting the return pass, however he had just strayed offside and the linesman raised his flag, correctly according to the watching public who were directly in line with the incident.
At the other end The Yellows Gareth Grant collected a long ball out of defence and carried it to the edge of the Reds’ box before exchanging a one two with youngster Mike Downing. Collecting the return ball though, his first touch was too heavy allowing the reds keeper Sean Lake to come off his line to close down the opportunity.
The second half got underway with one thing missing, the strong wind had gone along with any advantage would have gave to the Yellows, the visitors created a great chance to open the scoring at the start of the second half and Barry should have given them the lead on fifty five minutes. Jones fed Barry straight down the middle but though the the number nine aimed for the bottom corner, he couldn’t squeeze his shot past the superb dive of yellows keeper Steve Longrigg who turned the ball away for a corner.
The game started opening up a bit now and Mason Ryan had a shot from distance when the reds keeper made a hash of his clearance but the ball sailed over the crossbar, when Brown was robbed of possession by Mike Downing, he then fed Connor Gately but when the substitute slipped taking his shot, you wondered how much the home side would rue missing a great chance to take the lead.
Salt was rubbed in the wound some twenty seconds later as a long ball out of defence was flicked on by Barry and Morgan forced his way through the centre of the Yellow’s defence before smashing the ball home from fifteen yards, even though Steve Longrigg got his hands to the shot the power took it passed him and into the net..
With the match nearing the final few minutes, the visitors appealed for a penalty when Jay Waldron blocked Morgan’s cross but the referee who was no more than five yards away waved away the visitors appeals.
The visitors seemed intent on committing a vast amount of players forward and a quick counterattack from the Yellows saw the ever dangerous Connor Gately burst forward to latch onto Rob Flint’s flick on following a long ball by the yellows skipper Mark Rogers. He rounded the visitors goalkeeper Lake, who rushed off his line, but Connor’s shot was blocked on the line by Humphries, but with his fellow defenders watching on, Mike Downing followed up with a low shot that hit the back of the net.

Ashton Athletic 1-1 AFC Liverpool
Downing 90′+1 Morgan 79′

Next up is an away trip to Colne FC who are on a great run at the moment, but with fighting spirit like today who knows what can happen. On another note there were five players who have come from our development team in the squad today, so a big well done to those lads and also Roy. Kevin & Garry for the great work they are doing behind the scenes.