AAFC complete Pre season build up

The good mix of pre season games has prepared Ashton well for the start of the new NWCFL season this Saturday 11th August 2007, as Chadderton are the visitors to Brocstedes Park for a 3pm Kick off.

Passage through to the Goldline Trophy quarter finals as part of the season's preparations represents an initial mission accomplished and with some good performances in the friendlies against Runcorn, Flint and Rhyl the mix of games should give the squad a good base for the season, as the Club looks to build on last year's first season back in the North West Counties, in this the leagues 25th Anniversary.

Meanwhile the reserves continue with their efforts to retain the Hindsford Cup for the Club with the short trip to Atherton to take on Howe Bridge Mills of the Lancashire Amateur League in a 2pm kick off.
This season's competition has been somewhat dogged by the unseasonal rainfall in July but in the games that Ashton did complete a variety of Ashton line ups have drawn 4-4 against Bolton Wyresdale with goals from (TBC); then won at Irlam MS where YYYY and ZZZ scored; and most recently Ashton were beaten 2-4 by Fives Athletic of the Manchester League as a brace of goals by Richard Sharpe was not enough on the day.
The Reserves also locked horns with a Marine XI on Wednesday 8th August but ended up 3 goals to the worse, including a fabulous first half strike from 30 yards by Martin Christian, which changed the complexion of a game that until then had Ashton "ahead on points".
Nevertheless it was a very good work out for the lads that had not been involved with the first team at Elton Vale the night before, and the match photos below from the Marine game are provided courtesy of www.celebritypixuk.co.uk

Danny Burrows gets there first, as usual
















Pete Tarpey rises to the challenge
















Jonny Parkinson almost clear
but the covering Marine defender
thwarts a strike on goal




These prints and additional high quality shots are available for purchase on the above mentioned web site - just click on the link!

The full results from the friendlies and Goldline Trophy and Hindsford Cup games are provided below:-

Thu 19.07.07 Friendly AAFC 2 Runcorn Linnets 3

Wed 25.07.07 GOLDLINE AAFC 4 Ashton Town 4

Sat 28.07.07 Friendly Flint Town United 2 AAFC 2

Sat 28.07.07 HINDSFORD Cup AAFC XI 4 Bolton Wyresdale 4

Tue 31.07.07 HINDSFORD Cup Irlam MS XI 0 AAFC XI 2

Wed 01.08.07 GOLDLINE AAFC 3 Tempest United 1

Sat 04.08.07 HINDSFORD Cup AAFC XI 2 Fives Athletic 4

Sun 05.08.07 Friendly Rhyl FC 2 AAFC 0 see www.rhylfc.co.uk

Tue 07.08.07 GOLDLINE Elton Vale 3 AAFC 6

Wed 08.08.07 Friendly AAFC XI 0 Marine XI 3