AAFC 1 CHADDERTON 2 - SATURDAY 11TH AUGUST
Excellent macth report on the match courtesy of Cables Tiger see LINK AND edited REPORT BELOW
http://prescotfootball.blogspot.com/
It's a pleasant surprise to find entrance to the Brocstedes is only £5 including match programme.The stadium is tight and cosy with a welcoming club house.Several punters are already huddled around the TV watching Sunderland take on Spurs in the Premiership.
Outside,the two teams are already on the practice pitch going through a rigorous warm-up session. Obviously the days of players turning up at 2.30 having just downed fish and chips and a pint of bitter are long gone.The sort of barrel-chested centre halves once seen in the English first division no longer exist, not even at this level of football.I suspect most of the players have downed a pre-match meal of pasta with chicken followed by several bottles of spring water.We've come a long way since Norman 'bite yer legs' Hunter revealed in 'Shoot' magazine that his pre match ritual included beans on toast with a bar of chocolate.
Today's visitors,Oldham-based Chadderton FC ,have their sights set on bigger things than the NWCL.
A recent take over by a property development company has seen work start on renovatating their ground and the club recently appointed its first full time employee.There is certainly hope that the club will improve on last season's promising 5th position in the league.And if you can't have hope before a ball has even been kicked when can you?
The early stages of the match are best described as cagey with the ball being the proverbial hot potato.It's the 15th minute before the first chance appears as Ashton carve open the Chadderton defence only for the keeper to block at the feet of overlapping full back Jimmy Porter . A few minutes later Ashton's Simon Gallanders picked up the ball in the centre circle and went on a mazy run, side stepping several Chadderton challenges before having his shot blocked. Shades of Michael Owen's goal in the 1998 world cup without the all important finish.
This proves to be the highlight of the first half for Ashton as Chadderton take a grip on the game.Several corners are won and space starts to appear in front of the Ashton penalty area.
Inevitably Chadderton open the scoring in the 42nd minute. A precise lob to the left hand of the penalty area finds a Chadderton player in acres of space, and despite muted shouts for offside no whistle is heard and his first touch is good enough to allow him to draw the Ashton keeper before sliding a low shot into the net.
The second half is near enough one way traffic with the path to the Ashton goal being the one more travelled. Chadderton start to ping one-twos around the Ashton penalty area and Ashston's young side seem to visibly wilt in the oppressive August heat.
To no one's surprise Chadderton increase their lead in the 70th minute.The Ashton keeper fails to collect a corner under heavy pressure and the ball finds its way to the net via a Chadderton head from the six yard line. Only sloppy finishing and brisk work from the Ashton Keeper prevents more Chadderton scores, whilst the Chadderton keeper enjoyed a relatively untroubled second 45 minutes. But, as someone once said, it only takes a second to score a goal and Ashton ought to have pulled one back in the 72nd minute as Substitute Adam White burst through from midfield creating a one on one with Chaddy keeper Lee Swanson, only to make the wrong decision of passing rather than rounding the keeper and slotting home himself, clearly the easier option as thought by everyone else apart from the player himself.
Ashton did then haul themselves back in the game as the full time whistle beckoned. A lofted pass finds its way to Striker Paul McVeigh in the penalty area with Chadderton's defence left appealing in vain for offside. The finish is low and crisp top give the home side some consoilation for their efforts.
It would have been something of an injustice had Chadderton not gathered all three points and on this occasion footballing justice prevails.On this showing Ashton's young side will provide a stern test for many of their NWCL rivals this season and Chadderton should be well and truly in the promotion mix.
full time:
http://prescotfootball.blogspot.com/
North West Counties League 2, Brocstedes Park, Ashton in Makerfield
It's something of a surprise to note that a single suburb of Wigan is home to two North West Counties League sides-Ashton Athletic and Ashton Town. All football clubs living in traditional rugby league country seem to have to work doubly hard to keep the footballing flame alive.And so it is with Ashton Athletic.
Sporting folklore in this part of the world tends to be of the oval ball variety.A fact underlined when crossing the nearby park while walking to Brocstedes Stadium. Several youngsters wearing,for the most part, rugby league shirts are engrossed in a game of impromptu cricket with the only white atire in sight being the wicket keeper's Real Madrid shirt.The ray of hope for local football's future is the teenage lad hacking away furiously at a golf ball with a driving wedge, his Wigan Athletic shirt darkened with sweat as the sun beats down.
It's something of a surprise to note that a single suburb of Wigan is home to two North West Counties League sides-Ashton Athletic and Ashton Town. All football clubs living in traditional rugby league country seem to have to work doubly hard to keep the footballing flame alive.And so it is with Ashton Athletic.Sporting folklore in this part of the world tends to be of the oval ball variety.A fact underlined when crossing the nearby park while walking to Brocstedes Stadium. Several youngsters wearing,for the most part, rugby league shirts are engrossed in a game of impromptu cricket with the only white atire in sight being the wicket keeper's Real Madrid shirt.The ray of hope for local football's future is the teenage lad hacking away furiously at a golf ball with a driving wedge, his Wigan Athletic shirt darkened with sweat as the sun beats down.
It's a pleasant surprise to find entrance to the Brocstedes is only £5 including match programme.The stadium is tight and cosy with a welcoming club house.Several punters are already huddled around the TV watching Sunderland take on Spurs in the Premiership.
Outside,the two teams are already on the practice pitch going through a rigorous warm-up session. Obviously the days of players turning up at 2.30 having just downed fish and chips and a pint of bitter are long gone.The sort of barrel-chested centre halves once seen in the English first division no longer exist, not even at this level of football.I suspect most of the players have downed a pre-match meal of pasta with chicken followed by several bottles of spring water.We've come a long way since Norman 'bite yer legs' Hunter revealed in 'Shoot' magazine that his pre match ritual included beans on toast with a bar of chocolate.
Today's visitors,Oldham-based Chadderton FC ,have their sights set on bigger things than the NWCL.
A recent take over by a property development company has seen work start on renovatating their ground and the club recently appointed its first full time employee.There is certainly hope that the club will improve on last season's promising 5th position in the league.And if you can't have hope before a ball has even been kicked when can you?
The early stages of the match are best described as cagey with the ball being the proverbial hot potato.It's the 15th minute before the first chance appears as Ashton carve open the Chadderton defence only for the keeper to block at the feet of overlapping full back Jimmy Porter . A few minutes later Ashton's Simon Gallanders picked up the ball in the centre circle and went on a mazy run, side stepping several Chadderton challenges before having his shot blocked. Shades of Michael Owen's goal in the 1998 world cup without the all important finish.
This proves to be the highlight of the first half for Ashton as Chadderton take a grip on the game.Several corners are won and space starts to appear in front of the Ashton penalty area.
Inevitably Chadderton open the scoring in the 42nd minute. A precise lob to the left hand of the penalty area finds a Chadderton player in acres of space, and despite muted shouts for offside no whistle is heard and his first touch is good enough to allow him to draw the Ashton keeper before sliding a low shot into the net.
Half Time Ashton Athletic 0 - Chadderton 1
The second half is near enough one way traffic with the path to the Ashton goal being the one more travelled. Chadderton start to ping one-twos around the Ashton penalty area and Ashston's young side seem to visibly wilt in the oppressive August heat.
To no one's surprise Chadderton increase their lead in the 70th minute.The Ashton keeper fails to collect a corner under heavy pressure and the ball finds its way to the net via a Chadderton head from the six yard line. Only sloppy finishing and brisk work from the Ashton Keeper prevents more Chadderton scores, whilst the Chadderton keeper enjoyed a relatively untroubled second 45 minutes. But, as someone once said, it only takes a second to score a goal and Ashton ought to have pulled one back in the 72nd minute as Substitute Adam White burst through from midfield creating a one on one with Chaddy keeper Lee Swanson, only to make the wrong decision of passing rather than rounding the keeper and slotting home himself, clearly the easier option as thought by everyone else apart from the player himself.
Ashton did then haul themselves back in the game as the full time whistle beckoned. A lofted pass finds its way to Striker Paul McVeigh in the penalty area with Chadderton's defence left appealing in vain for offside. The finish is low and crisp top give the home side some consoilation for their efforts.
It would have been something of an injustice had Chadderton not gathered all three points and on this occasion footballing justice prevails.On this showing Ashton's young side will provide a stern test for many of their NWCL rivals this season and Chadderton should be well and truly in the promotion mix.full time:
Ashton Athletic 1-2 Chadderton
attendence 38
more pics at http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb153/cablestiger/
attendence 38
more pics at http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb153/cablestiger/
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