Saturday 17th February 2007 Ashton Athletic 2 Winsford 2

Match report to follow but in the meantime have a Butchers at the video - courtesy of Winsford FC (hence a few of the Ashton near misses not featured!) Nevertheless a good watch.
Its better to download it on to your PC rather than trying to view on the putfile site - takes about 10 mins.

http://media.putfile.com/Ashton-Athletic-FC-v-Winsford-United-FC

Ashton entertained the runaway leaders of NWCFL Second Division in good heart after 2 wins and a draw in the last 4 matches and having already claimed maximum points from the visits to Brocstedes Park of 2^nd place Runcorn and 3^rd placed Padiham the Ashton team were looking forward to another challenge.

Meanwhile Winsford were seeking to increase their eight point cushion at the top of the league hot on the heels of a mid week quarter final cup success against neighbours Ashton Town that secured them a semi final birth against New Mills next weekend.

Ashton made enforced changes with Richard Sharpe and Simon Gallanders missing from the previous week’s hard earned draw at Darwen through injury and holiday commitments respectively. However, these absences presented chances to Steve Bennett and new recruit Andy Smith who had both showed up well as replacements in the Darwen match.

The home team got at Winsford straight from the kick off as first Steve Wallace and then Tom Potter cut in from opposite wings in quick succession to shoot with Wallace’s effort forcing Winsford keeper Danny Morton into a save that was gathered at the second attempt, whilst Potter’s effort lacked power and was more easily collected by Morton.

Winsford’s Hanlon then intercepted a clearance from Martin Rigby and broke on to the Ashton back line, but good covering forced Hanlon to shoot wide under pressure.

Then in the 10^th minute two moments of brilliance from Ashton’s young players as first Adam White skilfully extracted himself from a dead end near the corner flag to play in Mati Mahoney whose driving run across the edge of the Winsford box followed by some neat footwork and changes in direction left 4 defenders in his wake before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom corner to give Ashton the lead. 1-0

Winsford fought back immediately as goal machine Rob Hopley broke through but his shot was off target. A cross from the Winsford right then produced a moment of controversy as a Mike Watson challenge in the box sent Les Miranda tumbling to the ground clutching his ankle. The loose ball fell to Danny Topping on the edge of the box but his shot went wide as his teammate’s claims for a penalty were waved away by referee Matthew Pope. Unfortunately Miranda was forced to leave the field, and was replaced by Phil Porter.

In the 20^th minute Ashton’s lead was almost increased as Mahoney turned provider with a superb through ball to Steve Bennett to go one on one with Morton, but Morton was up to the task as Bennett’s shot at full stretch was well saved at the second attempt.

Winsford skipper Mark Quinn then tested Andy Hewitt in the Ashton goal as his long range shot was tipped over the bar before Ashton’s Adam White was played in by Mahoney only to have his shot saved by Morton.

Winsfords Dave Hanlon gets on the ball.

Hanlon moved up front following Miranda’s departure and was causing the Ashton defence problems with his movement and skills on the ball and it was this good movement off the ball and interplay down the right with Mike Murray and Phil Porter that got behind the Ashton rear guard. From the move Hanlon’s pin point cross fell into the advancing run of full back Mike Murray who finished superbly into the corner of the goal to give Hewitt no chance and equalise for the visitors in the 30^th minute. 1-1

Directly from the kick off Ashton bounced back and forced a free kick in a wide position 5 yards outside the box. Andy Smith whipped in a wicked curling shot that was destined for the top corner before Morton tipped the ball onto the bar at full stretch. The rebound fell kindly to a Winsford defender, who cleared the danger.

Hanlon again broke clear down the Ashton left this time beating Steve Wallace before producing an in swinging cross that just eluded the advancing Winsford attackers.

As half time approached Mahoney produced another defence splitting ball as his reverse pass reached Bennett whose effort was blocked and cleared to safety. A driving run from the midfield by Adam White caused the Winsford defence to back off and using this space his pass found Potter whose in swinging cross was just beyond Mahoney at the far post. HT 1-1

The second half got underway with both teams tightening up in comparison to the open end to end first half and it was Winsford who created the first opening as Andy Smith got dispossessed by Paul Derrick just inside the Ashton half. Derrick then lofted a through ball into Rob Hopley whose well timed volley forced a save from Hewitt, who was not to know that the linesman had flagged for off side.

A great lay off by Hanlon produced an opening on the edge of the box for Porter but his first time effort was well blocked by the covering defenders.

The next 20 minutes became a tense midfield battle with both teams slugging it out for supremacy and clear opportunities were at a premium. It was not until the 75^th minute that either keeper was troubled and it was Ashton substitute Paul McVeigh who rose highest as a short corner allowed Steve Wallace free delivery to pick out Mcveigh on the six yard box, but Morton came to Winsford’s rescue again as he dove to save at the foot of his post from McVeigh’s downward header.

Porter was then once again on hand in the Ashton box latching on to another Hanlon cross with a header that was placed wide.

In the 85^th minute Ashton took the lead again as another well work corner fell to Adam White and from a tight angle he fired the home side ahead. 2-1

Within a minute Winsford were back on level terms as a dubious free kick was awarded to the visitors just outside the Ashton box. Although the first effort was blocked by the wall the subsequent early cross was lofted into the box and as Ashton’s keeper Hewitt came out to claim the ball he was buffeted by a combination of team mate Rigby and Winsford forward Hopley resulting in the keeper dropping the ball. Unfortunately for Ashton the referee did not see this as a foul on Hewitt or Rigby and when the ball fell to Hopley he shot into the roof of the net to tie up the scores. 2-2

The late dismissal of Adam White in the 88^th minute for what was supposed to be a second bookable offence was extremely harsh, especially having regard to several worse challenges that had occurred earlier in the game. With a man up and time running out Winsford piled on the pressure launching balls into the Ashton box but the defence held firm to ensure a share of the spoils. A great contest enjoyed by a decent crowd who watched man of the match performances from Adam White for Ashton and Dave Hanlon for the visitors. FT 2-2