Saturday 27th January 2007 Ashton Athletic 2 Castleton Gabriels 1

Ashton followed up the excellent performance and three points against Padiham with a second league win on the run against a physical Castleton team. The hard work put in by the squad during the three week enforced lay off after the Padiham game was duly rewarded and although the quality of the football failed to match that of the win against Padiham the team showed great strength of character and an ability to grind out the result when necessary.

Things looked good for Ashton in the opening exchanges with early efforts from Si Gallanders and Tom Potter just wide of the target, the second chance after good work by Richard Sharpe and Daniel Hitchen down the right.

Gallanders then split the defence with a slide rule pass to find Hitchen breaking through on goal, but as the recovering defender pulled him back Hitchen had to overstretch and his attempted lob went agonisingly wide. Cries for a penalty from the home side were ignored by the officials deeming that putting the ball wide gave Ashton an advantage!!?

Another Gallanders through ball found Tom Potter wide on the left and his early cross fizzed across the goal, inches beyond the advancing Sharpe.

Castleton fought back and a series of soft free kicks conceded by Ashton in their own half and several corners allowed the visitors free delivery into the Ashton box that were fortunately well handled by Ashton’s defenders.

After 22 minutes Gallanders and Potter unleashed two more long range efforts that were too hot to handle for Castleton keeper Mark Canning but Ashton could not capitalise as the loose ball fell kindly for the visitors.

A short corner in the 26^th minute was played to Wallace whose deep cross found Rigby stealing in at the back post but his downward header was placed just wide. Wallace was in the action again after 29 minutes, pouncing on to a loose ball on the edge of the box with a first time shot that crashed against the bar and the rebound was cleared by a relieved Castleton defence.

Castleton tried to fight back but the Ashton defence and midfield were in determined mood and coped well with the sporadic attacks. Even the attempts by Castleton to rough up and distract the Ashton team brought no reward for the visitors as the Ashton players stood their ground and gave as good as they got.

Ashton finally got their reward for their first half endeavours in the 45^th minute as hard working front man Sharpe, dispossessed the Castleton centre half and then showed great vision to release Tom Potter whose superb early strike flew into the top corner with keeper Canning a mere spectator. HT 1-0

Castleton’s intent was displayed in the first move of the second half as straight from the kick off Gallanders was taken out with a high challenge that was clearly designed to try to put Ashton on the back foot but again the team did not lie down and responded in kind.

Castleton had a strengthening wind at their backs which suited their long ball game into their three physical forwards but it was a freak decision by one of the assistant referees that game them the momentum them were looking for to draw level. A long ball from deep inside the Castleton half curled out of play by at least 2 feet and re entered the field of play in line with the edge of the Ashton box and put out of play. Expecting a throw in to be awarded at the other end of the pitch to everyone’s amazement the official flagged for a Castleton throw. Ashton failed to clear and Ben Stanford used his strength to fend off attempted tackles from Aspinall, Rothwell and Watson before smashing the ball into the roof of the net after 50 minutes. 1-1

Both teams spent the following 10 minutes battling for the upper hand and chances fell at both ends as Aspinall broke well down the left and his well hit shot hit the side netting, whilst Pheby and Stanford for Castleton shot high and wide with long range efforts.

Substitutes Winer and Mahoney were introduced around the hour mark with Gallanders taking up a more advanced position and the changes wrestled the initiative back to Ashton and almost produced an immediate return as Gallanders had another effort well save by Canning.

Then in the 70^th minute a controversial refereeing decision as a great cross from the right reached Martin Rigby on the six yard box and having jumped early he got first to the ball and headed home as keeper canning came of his line attempting to claim. The Ashton celebrations were however short lived as the referee awarded a free kick to Castleton, for a foul on the keeper. Undeterred Ashton pressed forward and a Richard Sharpe shot forced another good save before Matt Mahoney glided into the box and looked to be clearing the Castleton back line until two defenders took his legs and crashed to the floor. A stone wall penalty it was but amazingly the referee waved play on.

Castleton made their substitutions which gave them a boost and one of the entrants, Phil Stephenson immediately latched on to a fine through ball but could only shoot wide.

In the 84^th minute Ashton were awarded a free kick in a wide position 35 yards out, and a great delivery from Potter was headed back across goal and into the path of the advancing Gallanders who finished superbly and give Ashton a deserved lead. 2-1

Immediately from the kick off Ashton regained possession and another driving run by Gallanders drew the defence and a well timed pass played in Mahoney whose shot was turned around the post by Canning. The corner came to nothing and in the dying minutes Castleton poured men forward in an attempt to equalise. The Ashton defence held firm, and a superb reflex save by the otherwise inactive Andy Hewitt, in the 4^th minute of stoppage time was enough to see off the last Castleton attack.

Seconds before the final whistle Ashton could have increased the lead as Peter Hitchen, burst forward and unselfishly tried to square the ball to Gallanders for a tap in, but his pass was cut out by the outstretched hand of Canning. FT 2-1

Some classic wing play and a contender for goal of the season from Tom Potter earned him the Ashton MoM whilst Billy Craven took the Castleton award for some stubborn defending against the in form Potter.

Next week Ashton are at home again against Leek CSOB 3pm KO.

The reserves travelled to New Mills with a strong squad but clearly failed to "gel" and were eventually defeated 5-1. They will be keen to bounce back as they travel to Darwen next Saturday for a 3pm KO