Saturday 18th November 2006 Ashton Athletic 2 Darwen 2

North West Counties Football League Division 2

Ashton’s never say die attitude was on full view once again but unlike at Runcorn last week, the persistence in this match was rewarded with a point against much fancied Darwen, currently occupying 4^th place in the league.

A barn storming second half comeback more than made up for the lacklustre first half performance as late goals from substitutes Martin Rigby and Pete Tarpey pulled back a two goal deficit.

The first half showing from Ashton lacked the spark and commitment displayed in previous games, not helped by the very lenient approach of referee Goodwin to several late challenges by Darwen players in the early exchanges, which put Ashton on the back foot.

As a result Ashton got pinned back in their own half and after only 12 minutes this pressure paid off as Simon Gallanders was dispossessed on the edge of the box, and a quick through ball reached Darwen captain Stuart Telfer whose early shot was drilled into the roof of the net to give the visitors the lead.

Darwen continued to dominate the midfield and the influential Telfer produced a great through ball to Gareth Costello whose pace carried him clear of Ashton’s left back, Pat Aspinall. Fortunately for Ashton Mike Davids was quick to cover across and his slide tackle denied Costello a shot on goal, and although the attacker fell theatrically over the challenge the referee rejected the claim for a penalty.

The game became a midfield battle as the Ashton team strived to gain a foothold in the match and both teams cancelled each other out, with any advances by Ashton snuffed out by the excellent defensive duo of Charles Moss and Craig Chadwick in the heart of the Darwen defence.

Then in the 30^th minute, Ashton’s first clear chance, as a great passing move straight off the training ground was initiated by Pat Aspinall deep in his own half. Aspinall played an accurate ball into Tom Potter who laid it off to Adam White in midfield before spinning away down the channel for the return pass from White. The pace on which was judged superbly and after one touch Potter delivered a pin point cross to Pete Woodcock unmarked just outside the 6 yard box, however his powerful header fizzed inches wide with the Darwen keeper, Dan Holland nothing more than a spectator.

After 35 minutes White then played another defence splitting ball for Steve Wallace to burst through one on one with the keeper only to be pulled back as the linesman flagged for an off side against Pete Woodcock who had made no attempt to join in play.

Telfer again found space on the edge of the Ashton box in the 37^th minute but his left foot shot was well saved by Andy Hewitt. Then from a corner Darwen’s Steve Shackleton got first to the ball after a goal mouth scramble ensued from a corner but he was also denied by a good block by Hewitt. However as the ball fell to Mike Winer his mistimed clearance was intercepted and crossed to the far post by Costello to find Telfer. Telfer’s whose shot was half blocked by the advancing Mike Watson but unfortunately the block merely deflected the ball into the opposite corner of the goal, giving Hewitt no chance.

HT 0-2

The second half started with Ashton visibly more up for it and starting to put a few strong tackles in of
their own. Despite that it was Darwen who had the first chance as good work down the left in the 50^th minute by Lee Stott ended with a superb cross that was not read by the Ashton defence, and thankfully for Ashton it was also missed by the Darwen attackers and the ball ran out for a goal kick.

From then on it became one-way traffic as Ashton dominated, restricting Darwen to the odd break away that were easily dealt with by the Ashton back line.

Steve Bennett on as a substitute broke down the right in the 61^st minute before playing in Pete Woodcock whose driving run was capped off with a superb far post cross well met by Gallanders, but his shot was too well timed and was put narrowly over the bar.

On Ashton’s next attack more good work down the right, first with Mike Davids and then again by Steve Bennett allowed Bennett to deliver a pass into the advancing Steve Wallace just inside the box and as Wallace touched the ball forward in preparation for a shot his legs were taken from under him, a stone wall penalty or so everyone thought, that is with the exception of the officials who waived play on.

This injustice merely served to spur the home side on to even greater efforts as Gallanders then returned the earlier compliment with a quick free kick that found the head of Woodcock but keeper Holland saved the effort at full stretch.

Woodcock also had a shout for a penalty refused in the 80^th minute having had his standing leg kick from under him on the penalty spot when he was about to pull the trigger.

Undeterred Ashton poured forward and the pressure finally paid off as a clearance from and Ashton corner was whipped back into the box by the energetic Tom Potter directly to Martin Rigby whose header found the bottom corner.

With time running out it seemed that Ashton’s second half blitz would be resisted by Darwen until Woodcock once again secured quality possession just inside the Darwen half before releasing Wallace down the right channel and whose cross was spilled at full stretch by Holland allowing Pete Tarpey to pounce and slam the ball home from close range, and giving Ashton a well deserved draw out of a game that looked done and dusted at half time.

Darwen’s defensive General Craig Chadwick earned himself a MoM award whilst a great “leading the line” in the second half won Pete Woodcock Ashton’s accolade, although he was run close for the honour by several other hard working Ashton players especially the handful who played to their potential in BOTH halves of the match!

Next Saturday 25th November 2006 the team travel to Leek CSOB whilst the reserves entertain Reserve Division run away leaders FC United Reserves, both are 3pm kick offs