Saturday 10th February 2007 Darwen FC 2 Ashton Athletic FC 2

With the vast majority of games postponed following the weeks bad weather full credit to the Darwen ground staff for enabling this game to take place. Although the surface was heavy and cut up badly throughout the game it remained playable for the full 90 minutes and huge credit also to both teams’ for the high fitness levels and excellent application that produced some attractive end to end football with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

Darwen were out of the blocks at lightning speed clearly smarting from the disappointing loss to bottom Club Norton last week, whilst Ashton were unusually subdued and lacked concentration for the first few minutes of the game.

A mix up between Adam White and Steve Rothwell, both going for the same clearance from the Darwen keeper allowed Darwen possession down the left and a long range effort from Liam Denning clipped the top of the bar and ran away to safety for Ashton.

Then a misjudgement of a through ball by Mike Watson allowed Darwen skipper Neil Almond to burst through and force Ashton keeper Hewitt to make a good save.

The mistakes at the back unsettled Ashton and allowed Darwen to exert early pressure, and from an inswinging corner in the 4^th minute by Leigh Smith caught the wind, tricked keeper Hewitt and sailed into the top corner untouched to give Darwen a deserved lead 1-0.

Ashton bounced back almost immediately as good work down the Ashton left flank forced Darwen to foul and the referee duly awarded a free kick. Good movement around the ball and in the box, allied to a pin point delivery from Simon Gallanders was met by Richard Sharpe who powered the ball into the net from 6 yards to even up the score line 1-1.

Despite the goal Darwen continued to trouble the Ashton defence with skipper Neil Almond, midfielder Leigh Smith and striker John Turner combining well on several occasions, whilst unaccustomed slack marking at the back allowed the home side a few sights at goal. Some last ditch clearances seemed to be holding Darwen’s onslaught at bay until the 16^th minute as a sliced clearance by Steve Wallace failed to provoke a reaction in the heart of the Ashton defenc e and Almond pounced on the loose ball and fired his team in front again 2-1.

Darwen were now flying forward at every opportunity in an attempt to kill off the game and were only prevented from increasing the lead by a couple of great saves from keeper Hewitt and some more last ditch defending during several goal mouth scrambles by the Ashton defence that was slowly getting to grips with the ground conditions and their opposition.

As the half wore on the balance of play started to even out and Ashton could have scored again as the lively Sharpe latched onto a through ball, beat the keeper to the ball but the keeper, Daniel Holland got finger tips to Sharpe’s attempted lob forcing the effort wide. Sharpe was injured as Holland followed through on the challenge and a short time afterwards Sharpe hobbled off the field and was replaced by Steve Bennett.

Just before the break a good solo effort by John Turner could have increased the lead but his effort fizzed over the bar. HT 2-1

The second half got underway with Ashton visibly more determined and immediately put Darwen on the back foot with early efforts by Steve Wallace and then two in quick succession by Matt Mahoney which were thwarted by last ditch defensive blocks as the home defence rocked. The early pressure paid dividends for Ashton as substitute Steve Bennett got first to a great cross from Tom Potter to equalise after 48 minutes. 2-2

Darwen hit back immediately and from a set piece centre half Matthew Anderton headed into the net in the 50^th minute but had been spotted by eagle eyed referee Worthington for a push on Ashton’s Rigby, and correctly awarded a free kick to Ashton.

The next 10 minutes became a stop start affair as the teams battled for supremacy and several yellow cards and injuries threatened what, until then had been an enthralling encounter. The referee who was already having a fine afternoon intervened sensibly to stamp down on the foul play in a consistent and fair manner which then left the teams in no doubt as to his requirements, which in turn allowed the teams to get with the last 30 minutes of football. This last segment of the match was a great advert for NWCFL football as both sides showed passion, determination and quality and went hell for leather to secure the three points.

More good work down the left by Tom Potter created another opening for Bennett but his well timed volley shot over the bar. The growing activity from Simon Gallanders was causing the tiring Darwen midfield no end of problems supplying the Ashton forwards with increased frequency. In the 70^th minute a good passing move from the back and into the midfield went through Gallanders, and having brought in other players the ball was return to him just inside the Darwen box but his shot was blocked by Holland and the rebound was put over top by Bennett at full stretch.

The game was at its most open and end to end play was creating chances at both ends. A free kick swung into the box reached the dangerous Turner who controlled the ball on his chest, but his touch was too heavy, the ball went just out of his reach and was safely gathered by Hewitt.

A series of corners and free kicks around the Ashton box for Darwen were defended well and Ashton counter attacked several times to great effect. In the 80^th minute Gallanders broke out and played in debutant Andy Smith whose drilled shot had the beating of the Darwen keeper but recovering defender got a foot in to deflect the shot wide. From the resulting corner, a bit of a collector’s item as centre half Martin Rigby attempted an ambitious overhead kick, but despite the good contact with the ball the effort was too straight and keeper Holland was well positioned to gather easily.

A Darwen defensive block then denied Ashton striker, Mahoney in the 85^th minute before Gallanders again released Potter down the left, crossing to Bennett whose shot was heading for the top corner before another last ditch defensive intervantion denied the visiting side.

With the minutes ticking away to full time neither team slowed the pace of the game and its was Darwen that had the last chances to seal the victory as first John Turner miskicked, and then substitute Patrick Lauber forced Ashton keeper Andy Hewitt into one of many great saves in the afternoon, which more than made up for his misjudgement on the first Darwen goal. FT 2-2

A great afternoon’s entertainment I am sure enjoyed by the players, managers and spectators and a last word for all three officials who played their part throughout the match and it was good to see them overseeing the game with smiles on their faces and a consistency that many higher league managers would die for, Paul Jewell for one!

Man of the match for Ashton was Simon Gallanders whilst striker John Turner was Darwen’s ward winner.

Next Saturday Ashton take on league leaders Winsford United at Brocstedes Park 3pm KO whilst Ashton’s reserves will hopefully be back in action with a short trip to Wigan Robin Park for a friendly (TBC)

END