Last Gasp Winner Sends Young Yellows Into Next Round!

Ashton U18's travel away tonight for the game against Hyde FC, at The Abbey Stadium under the flood lights in the FA Youth Cup. Ashton are short on numbers, with only 14 players but with plenty of experience in the ranks.

The game gets under way at an electric pace and within the first 3 minutes we see 2 goals, the first from Ashton on 50 seconds with a ball in the box from James Burns to Callum Davies who slots the ball in the net for his first goal for the yellows, a nice calm finish from the youngster. But that was to be short lived as Hyde hit back just on 3 minutes from the left hand side into the bottom right hand corner off the goal leaving Keane Stanley with no chance, and shocking the Ashton lads.

The tempo of the game in the early stages is phenomenal and real exciting end to end football, as you would expect from 2 teams in the premier division of the North West Youth Alliance League.

A lively Matty Blakeley shoots, but the ball is just wide of the post, the game continues to flow from end to end and Ashton nearly get there second goal, coming from a mistake by Hyde, Rivan Fisher picks the ball up and puts Rob Newcombe through on goal, only for the forward to snatch his shot wide, that was a real let off for the home side and Ashton should have been 2-1 to the good.

Hyde come on the attack once again and win a corner, but centre half Scott Maher deals with it and clears the ball quite comfortably. Rob Newcombe is looking very sharp tonight and full of running goes on the attack once again, but Hyde clear the ball out for a corner which leads to a goal kick.

From the goal kick Hyde break down the left flank and get the ball into the box only for Scott to head the ball out for a corner. The corner leads to a goal kick.

Relentless pressure from the young yellows, but they just cant seem to break into the final third of the pitch. There are some heavy challenges now coming in form Hyde, I think the frustration is setting in. On 44 minutes Ashton have there last attack of the half with a ball in from Calum Mclaughlan to Matty who tries to slot the ball in to the net but the Keeper saves, that's the last action of the first half.

I do have to say the 3 lads in the middle of the park which are James Burns, Rivan Fisher & Callum Davies have work tremendously well, as have the rest of the team. Ashton should really be leading the game by at least 2 goals, but that's not to be and go in at half time all square 1-1.

Half Time

The first attacking play of the second half come from Hyde but the shot is straight at Keane. From that Ashton go on the attack with a nice inter change of play between Dylan Martin and Matty to play Calum in with a good strike from outside the box but an equally good block from the Hyde defence.

Slack marking by Ashton allow Hyde to get a shot away but Keane is more than ample to it and saves comfortably. Hyde start to see a lot more of the ball and the away team have to do a bit of defending to do. Its not long before Ashton are on the attack once again, with Adam Kenyon picking the ball up and playing it to Matty who releases Calum Mclaughlan to get his shot away but that only leads to a goal kick.

Matty again in the thick of things, twists and turns on the edge of the box and wins the team a free

kick in a dangerous position, but the free kick is wasted. The second half is just a quick as the first and the tempo is really high making it an entertaining game for the spectators. What looks sure to be a goal for Hyde is cleared of the line for the second time in 2 games by Adam Kenyon and the danger is cleared. Ashton should count them selves lucky not to be 2-1 down.

On the far side of the pitch Calum Mc puts his team in trouble when he loses the ball, only for team mate Keane Stanley to pull him out of the mire with a save on to the post, and jump on the ball for the second time of asking. Well done Keane!

Matty Blakeley is at it again has he wins the yellows another free kick just outside the box. A bit of confusion between James & Calum Mc who is taking it with the later of the 2 blazing the ball way way over the bar. With a bit of luck we might find it on the M62 on the way home.

Rob & Matty both in the thick of it again, combine nicely Matty gets his shot away but it is deflected wide for a corner. The corner is defended well by Hyde the ball is cleared but put back into the box, only for the linesman's flag to up and Rob is offside. Jack Hurst the goes on a run down the left side but loses the ball to Hyde's winger, but the determination showed by Jack to win the ball back was second to none, with a great tackle he came away and put Ashton on the attack again.

The game enters stoppage time and on the 48th minute and Ashton win a late penalty, with Matty being felled in the box the referee with no hesitation blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. Jack Hurst picks the ball up and puts it on the spot. I wouldn't like to think what is going round his head right now. Up he steps and places the ball out of the keepers reach and into the bottom right hand corner. Role on the celebrations.

But the drama didn't stop there Ashton had to see out the rest of the game, and see out the game they did in spectacular fashion when James Burns cleared the ball of the line. Hand ball the opposition shouted but within no time the ball was rifled back at the goal only for Keane to make a full length outstanding save to keep the scoreline to 2-1 and put the yellows through to the next round of the FA Youth Cup.

Games are won and lost as a team and this was definitely a team effort well done boys and good luck in the next round.

Thanks again to John Mclaughlan for the brilliant report!