Easter Monday 9th April 2007 Ashton Town 2 Ashton Athletic 2
Honours were even after the Ashton derby fixture on Easter Monday as the local rivals fought out a 2-2 draw at Edge Green Street.
Town had the first chance as a set piece in the 2nd minute was not cleared and the loose ball fell to Town skipper Ross McNair in acres of room. However Athletic's new keeper Danny Vickers, having recently changed Clubs, saved brilliantly at point blank to deny his former teammate.
Simon Gallanders then broke down the left before cutting in and shot low and hard, but Town keeper James Heseldine saved.
Town's Simon Howard then escaped his marker, latching onto a though ball but Martin Rigby recovered ground and got in a valuable block to prevent the shot troubling Vickers.
The visitors then had a long period of dominance with first the goal post coming to Heseldine's rescue as a Gallanders corner was helped on at the near post by McVeigh to Rigby who headed goal ward only to be denied by the post.
Another corner, this time played short allowed Gallanders a sight at goal and his shot was spilled by Heseldine and fortunately for town fell to a defender who cleared to safety. A third corner in quick succession again had Heseldine at full stretch, with the half clearance again falling to a team mate rather than the advancing attackers.
In the 25th minute a Gallanders free kick was met squarely by Sharpe but the contact was too goodand the ball flew wide of the post.
Town were visibly rattled and struggled to find a foot hold in the game to allow them to mount attacks, and only resolute defending kept Athletic at bay. Further chances were forged through Richard Sharpe who twice broke clear with maizy runs but the first attempt was well saved again by Heseldine and the better second chance on 39 minutes caught a bobble which forced the shot over the bar.
Town finally managed a forray forward as a free kick from deep was flicked on and into the arms of Vickers.
HT 0-0
Town started the second half with more attacking intent and a good left to right passing move created space for a well judged cross into the box which was met by the unmarked Danny Smith whose movement lost his marker during build up play and allowed him to score after 47 minutes 1-0.
Athletic fought back immediately piling on the pressure, Gallanders attempting a lob that was safely gethered by Heseldine before Town conceded a free kick just outside the box in the 52nd minute. The free kick was not cleared and the ensuing goal mouth scramble produced several efforts by Athletic and one such attempt was blocked by the hand of a Town defender which the referee spotted immediatly and awarded the penalty kick. Paul McVeigh stood up to the mark and fired in the equaliser. 1-1
Athletic pushed for more goals as Gallanders again found Sharpe and with Heseldine hesitating it looked like Sharpe would get to the ball first, but a change of heart by Heseldine allowed him to recover and nick the ball off Sharpe's head. Paul McVeigh volleyed wide from another promising move down the right and then good interplay between McVeigh and Sharpe produced another chance for McVeigh but again Heseldine was on hand to deny Athletic.
Substitute Alex Marrow was introduced, making his debut and having an instant impact as McVeigh worked down the right flank again to deliver a deep cross that found Marrow whose first touch brought him back inside to allow a low hard finish back across the keeper to give Athletic a deserved lead in the 70th minute. 1-2
Having looked comfortable throughout the second half it looked like Athletic were well on the way to avenging the 2-1 Boxing day defeat against their near neighbours but the home side had other ideas.
Town broke forward down the right again and somewhat fortuatously were awarded a soft free kick by referee Woodward, one of several he had given to Town throughout the match. A great inswinging delivery was latched onto by substitute Chris McNally whose flicked header in the 73rd minute was guided into the bottom corner, leaving Vickers no chance to cut it out. 2-2
The last 10 minutes became very disjointed with Town seemingly settling for the draw, lauching the ball out of the ground at every opportunity, but Athletic managed to forge one last chance as once again McVeigh and Gallanders combined before freeing Marrow but this time his shot on goal was well blocked by the recovering defender.
FT 2-2
For Athletic Rigby was a tower in defence whilst the attacking flair and efforts of McVeigh, Sharpe and Gallanders also caught the eye, however the MoM was given, not for the first time this season to Rigby's Defensive partner and skipper Steve Rothwell.
Town's MoM was given to Mike wood whose efforts in breaking up play in the midfield were a key to town's success in securing the point, however Ross McNair and James Heseldine were not far behind.
The next game for the first team is likely to be a freindly on Saturday 14th April v Walshaw Sc at Home (2pm KO) unless the Atherton Charity Cup second Round match v Highfield is brought forward - currently scheduled for Monday 16th April 7.30pm ko.
This will be quickly followed by another crunch league match at Daisy Hill on 18th April 2007 7.30pm KO.
Town had the first chance as a set piece in the 2nd minute was not cleared and the loose ball fell to Town skipper Ross McNair in acres of room. However Athletic's new keeper Danny Vickers, having recently changed Clubs, saved brilliantly at point blank to deny his former teammate.
Simon Gallanders then broke down the left before cutting in and shot low and hard, but Town keeper James Heseldine saved.
Town's Simon Howard then escaped his marker, latching onto a though ball but Martin Rigby recovered ground and got in a valuable block to prevent the shot troubling Vickers.
The visitors then had a long period of dominance with first the goal post coming to Heseldine's rescue as a Gallanders corner was helped on at the near post by McVeigh to Rigby who headed goal ward only to be denied by the post.
Another corner, this time played short allowed Gallanders a sight at goal and his shot was spilled by Heseldine and fortunately for town fell to a defender who cleared to safety. A third corner in quick succession again had Heseldine at full stretch, with the half clearance again falling to a team mate rather than the advancing attackers.
In the 25th minute a Gallanders free kick was met squarely by Sharpe but the contact was too goodand the ball flew wide of the post.
Town were visibly rattled and struggled to find a foot hold in the game to allow them to mount attacks, and only resolute defending kept Athletic at bay. Further chances were forged through Richard Sharpe who twice broke clear with maizy runs but the first attempt was well saved again by Heseldine and the better second chance on 39 minutes caught a bobble which forced the shot over the bar.
Town finally managed a forray forward as a free kick from deep was flicked on and into the arms of Vickers.
HT 0-0
Town started the second half with more attacking intent and a good left to right passing move created space for a well judged cross into the box which was met by the unmarked Danny Smith whose movement lost his marker during build up play and allowed him to score after 47 minutes 1-0.
Athletic fought back immediately piling on the pressure, Gallanders attempting a lob that was safely gethered by Heseldine before Town conceded a free kick just outside the box in the 52nd minute. The free kick was not cleared and the ensuing goal mouth scramble produced several efforts by Athletic and one such attempt was blocked by the hand of a Town defender which the referee spotted immediatly and awarded the penalty kick. Paul McVeigh stood up to the mark and fired in the equaliser. 1-1
Athletic pushed for more goals as Gallanders again found Sharpe and with Heseldine hesitating it looked like Sharpe would get to the ball first, but a change of heart by Heseldine allowed him to recover and nick the ball off Sharpe's head. Paul McVeigh volleyed wide from another promising move down the right and then good interplay between McVeigh and Sharpe produced another chance for McVeigh but again Heseldine was on hand to deny Athletic.
Substitute Alex Marrow was introduced, making his debut and having an instant impact as McVeigh worked down the right flank again to deliver a deep cross that found Marrow whose first touch brought him back inside to allow a low hard finish back across the keeper to give Athletic a deserved lead in the 70th minute. 1-2
Having looked comfortable throughout the second half it looked like Athletic were well on the way to avenging the 2-1 Boxing day defeat against their near neighbours but the home side had other ideas.
Town broke forward down the right again and somewhat fortuatously were awarded a soft free kick by referee Woodward, one of several he had given to Town throughout the match. A great inswinging delivery was latched onto by substitute Chris McNally whose flicked header in the 73rd minute was guided into the bottom corner, leaving Vickers no chance to cut it out. 2-2
The last 10 minutes became very disjointed with Town seemingly settling for the draw, lauching the ball out of the ground at every opportunity, but Athletic managed to forge one last chance as once again McVeigh and Gallanders combined before freeing Marrow but this time his shot on goal was well blocked by the recovering defender.
FT 2-2
For Athletic Rigby was a tower in defence whilst the attacking flair and efforts of McVeigh, Sharpe and Gallanders also caught the eye, however the MoM was given, not for the first time this season to Rigby's Defensive partner and skipper Steve Rothwell.
Town's MoM was given to Mike wood whose efforts in breaking up play in the midfield were a key to town's success in securing the point, however Ross McNair and James Heseldine were not far behind.
The next game for the first team is likely to be a freindly on Saturday 14th April v Walshaw Sc at Home (2pm KO) unless the Atherton Charity Cup second Round match v Highfield is brought forward - currently scheduled for Monday 16th April 7.30pm ko.
This will be quickly followed by another crunch league match at Daisy Hill on 18th April 2007 7.30pm KO.
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