Saturday 6th January 2007 Ashton Athletic 2 Padiham 0

Ashton’s New Year got off to a great start win a convincing win against promotion candidates Padiham, who were well placed in fourth place at the start of proceedings. For Ashton it was a realisation of the potential displayed in recent games.

After the reserve game on the Brocstedes pitch last week in atrocious weather, great credit to grounds man Derek Heaton whose efforts during the week gave the pitch a shouting chance to be ready for this game. Heavy rain on Saturday morning cast some initial doubt about the game proceeding but the referee, Peter Simm declared the pitch playable although there was a chance that the game might have turned into a mud bath if the rain had returned. Fortunately but for a light shower the weather stayed dry and the pitch held together superbly.

Ashton started the game clearly determined to make up for the disappointing result at Norton last week but Padiham were in similar mood having also lost their last game, and the efforts blanked each other out for the first fifteen minutes.

The first chance of the game came as a Tom Potter crossed into the box and Steve Rothwell’s header was put over the top. Simon Gallanders then fed Richard Sharpe who got behind the defence and lobbed the keeper, but was adjudged to be offside much to the disapproval of the home supporters who felt he had timed his run superbly.

Then came Padiham’s moment in the sun as an under hit back pass by Martin Rigby was intercepted by the league’s top scorer Paul Fildes but Andy Hewitt was quick to narrow the angle and turned the ball away for a corner.

In the 20^th minute Padiham skipper Paul Paynter then lost his marker and stole in around the back to latch onto a deep cross but his header was off target.

These scares lifted the Ashton effort again and Gallanders once again split the defence to find Sharpe clear and this time onside but Padiham keeper Gavin King was out quickly to smother the chance.

On 26^th minutes Ashton were awarded a free kick after Steve Wallace was hauled down in full flow and Tom Potter swung in the set piece directly on to Martin Rigby’s head, who made no mistake to power the ball into the net to give Ashton the lead. 1-0.

Another set piece found Richard Sharpe in the box and his downward header fell kindly for Gallanders who steered the ball towards the top corner but it just cleared the bar.

Just before the half time break Padiham a poor defensive clearance by Ashton fell to Paynter whose early cross found Fildes in space but his shot was well saved by Hewitt to kept the home sides lead intact. HT 1-0

As you might expect Padiham came out strong in the early exchanges in the second half forcing a misjudgement by Ashton’s keeper Hewitt who mistimed his punch but fortunately as the ball fell to Paynter good closing down forced him to shoot high and over the top.

On the counter attack Aspinall released Potter whose great cross just eluded 3 advancing Ashton attackers and went harmlessly past the far post.

After 52 minutes Padiham centre half Matt Woods surged through the Ashton midfield but skewed his shot wide from just inside the box.

More clever work from Gallanders created space for himself to shoot from the edge of the box but the effort was well saved by King, and then a great chance to increase the lead as Wallace crossed to Sharpe who did well to get first to the ball and force King to save at full stretch with the ball flying towards the bottom corner.

Good play again in the 63^rd minute as Daniel Hitchen pounced on a loose ball in the box only to be denied by a goal line by Padiham’s left back Ingham.

The pressure on the Padiham defence was mounting and great play again down the left in the 70^th minute between Potter and Aspinall got Ashton behind the back four and a great cut back onto the edge of the box found Adam White whose first time volley flew in to the top corner, a goal that would have graced any level of football. 2-0

Padiham almost got a foothold in the game in the 78^th minute when an attempted clearance from inside the Ashton box struck the back of substitute Callum Routledge but fortunately Hewitt was again alert and saved well. Padiham had a couple of half chances as Andy Haworth’s shot was deflected wide and Vinnie Braine effort that was gathered by Hewitt but it was Ashton that looked the stronger at the finish and fully deserved the 3 points. FT 2-0

MoM for Ashton was Tom Potter with some excellent wing play although the midfield of Gallanders and White pushed him close. Steve Pickup got the nod for Padiham for a solid defensive display.

Next Saturday there is no game for the first team with the scheduled opposition in County Cup action and must therefore wait until the 20^th January when they entertain Norton United at Brocstedes. However the reserves do have a home league match on Saturday against Formby Reserves, 3pm Kick off.