Saturday 29th July 2006 Squires Gate (Blackpool) 3 Ashton Athletic 2 Friendly
Ashton travelled to Blackpool for the third weekend in a row for a tough test against the NWCFL Division One outfit Squires gate.
The cooler weather and a heavy shower just before and after the kick off failed to wake up the Ashton team as two strikes in the first 5 minutes by Squires Gate, giving the initial impression that the visitors were in for a torrid afternoon.
This ended up being far from the truth as a tremendous fight back full of grit and determination was almost enough for Ashton to return with a share of the spoils.
The Squires Gate first goal came from a free kick awarded against Steve Rothwell when both he and the home tam striker were as guilty as each other of man handling. young goalkeeper Scott Waters carefully arranged his defensive wall only for it to evaporate as a thunderbolt from the Squires gate Captain pierced the flimsy wall.
further dismay just 2 minutes later as almost the next attack produced a strike on goal that the Ashton keeper found too hot to handle as the greasy ball squirmed through the gloves and into the empty net.
Despite this initial setback the team showed immense character to stem the tide and then work back into the game. The recovery was borne out of some excellent defending by centre halfs Steve Rotwell and skipper Mike Watson, well supported by full backs Gaz Weigh and Pete Hitchen, and all screened by the harder working Mike Winer and Danny Jarrett in the middle of the park.
As the teams confidence grew a first sight of goal resulted from great wing play by Peter Tarpey down the left and a switch of play allowed Paul Bohannon a free shot at goal from just inside the box, forcing a great save by the home keeper.
Ashton were now setting about the higher league opponents and Paul Mcveigh was unfortunate to receive a cooling down yellow card for an over exhuberant challenge on the Squires Gate right back.
The higher passing tempo and general play was suiting Ashton and this brought its reward from a powerful run down the right by Paul Bohannon, whose cross was well met by Paul Mcveigh in the six yard box to reduce the deficit in the 24th minute.
Ashton pressed on and after a corner in the 35th minute was over hit Mike Rhead regained posession near to the opposite corner flag before releasing Danny Jarrett in the box who squared the ball to an unmarked Mike Watson who in turn fired home the equaliser for his second goal in two games.
The second half saw the two team well matched with the defences generally on top and Ashton came close to taking the lead through Paul Mcveigh, firstly from a Peter Hitchen long throw and then off a speculative long range delivery into the box by Gareh Weigh.
Athe other end Scott Waters in the Ashton goal was growing in confidence, making a couple of sharp grond saves and generally coping well with anything thrown at him.
With both teams maikng several second half substitutionsthe game became somewhat disjointed with both teams failing to establish any rythmn.
However with 18 minutes remaining a misjudged back pass to the Ashton keeper was intercepted by the Squires Gate striker and slotted into the goal sharply as Waters tried to narrow the angle.
Ashton tried to fight back but could not find a way through the beefed up Squires Gate defence and eventually went down 2-3.
Ashton's man of the Match was Steve Rothwell who battled all afternoon always standing his ground against his physical opponent.
An excellent benchmark as to the teams progress in the pre season build up was achieved even, though the result could have been better.
Role on the next match
End
The cooler weather and a heavy shower just before and after the kick off failed to wake up the Ashton team as two strikes in the first 5 minutes by Squires Gate, giving the initial impression that the visitors were in for a torrid afternoon.
This ended up being far from the truth as a tremendous fight back full of grit and determination was almost enough for Ashton to return with a share of the spoils.
The Squires Gate first goal came from a free kick awarded against Steve Rothwell when both he and the home tam striker were as guilty as each other of man handling. young goalkeeper Scott Waters carefully arranged his defensive wall only for it to evaporate as a thunderbolt from the Squires gate Captain pierced the flimsy wall.
further dismay just 2 minutes later as almost the next attack produced a strike on goal that the Ashton keeper found too hot to handle as the greasy ball squirmed through the gloves and into the empty net.
Despite this initial setback the team showed immense character to stem the tide and then work back into the game. The recovery was borne out of some excellent defending by centre halfs Steve Rotwell and skipper Mike Watson, well supported by full backs Gaz Weigh and Pete Hitchen, and all screened by the harder working Mike Winer and Danny Jarrett in the middle of the park.
As the teams confidence grew a first sight of goal resulted from great wing play by Peter Tarpey down the left and a switch of play allowed Paul Bohannon a free shot at goal from just inside the box, forcing a great save by the home keeper.
Ashton were now setting about the higher league opponents and Paul Mcveigh was unfortunate to receive a cooling down yellow card for an over exhuberant challenge on the Squires Gate right back.
The higher passing tempo and general play was suiting Ashton and this brought its reward from a powerful run down the right by Paul Bohannon, whose cross was well met by Paul Mcveigh in the six yard box to reduce the deficit in the 24th minute.
Ashton pressed on and after a corner in the 35th minute was over hit Mike Rhead regained posession near to the opposite corner flag before releasing Danny Jarrett in the box who squared the ball to an unmarked Mike Watson who in turn fired home the equaliser for his second goal in two games.
The second half saw the two team well matched with the defences generally on top and Ashton came close to taking the lead through Paul Mcveigh, firstly from a Peter Hitchen long throw and then off a speculative long range delivery into the box by Gareh Weigh.
Athe other end Scott Waters in the Ashton goal was growing in confidence, making a couple of sharp grond saves and generally coping well with anything thrown at him.
With both teams maikng several second half substitutionsthe game became somewhat disjointed with both teams failing to establish any rythmn.
However with 18 minutes remaining a misjudged back pass to the Ashton keeper was intercepted by the Squires Gate striker and slotted into the goal sharply as Waters tried to narrow the angle.
Ashton tried to fight back but could not find a way through the beefed up Squires Gate defence and eventually went down 2-3.
Ashton's man of the Match was Steve Rothwell who battled all afternoon always standing his ground against his physical opponent.
An excellent benchmark as to the teams progress in the pre season build up was achieved even, though the result could have been better.
Role on the next match
End
posted by
DP at 11:05 PM
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