Saturday 18th August 2007 Castleton Gabriels 1 AAFC 3
With Castleton's home ground out of action the fixture was shifted to Bacup Borough and got underway in wet conditions that made the surface slick, and for some players slippy under foot.
Ashton started that game very brightly putting Gabs on the back foot with some incisive passing and this provided instant reward as Mike Johnson threaded the ball through to Dave Sherlock on the right wing who put in a pin point cross for Paul Townshend sliding in at the back post. 1-0 to Ashton
Ashton continued to dominate the play using the wide men to maximum effect but the final delivery or pass was not quite tuned in the the runs of the attackers enabling the Gabs defence to clear the lines.
Credit Castleton they kept plugging away and the hard work of Matt Jackson and Dean Watkinson in the midfield gradually gave Gabs a platform in the game and having done so, and from the first major threat on the Ashton goal a superb cross swung in by Brad Barrington was met in the 24th minute by the head of Dean Watkinson and flew into the back of the net. 1-1.
Chances were few and far between for the rest of the half, but a blow for Castleton came when centre half Michael Ward was taken off the pitch due to an ankle injury and replaced by Lee Chadwick.HT 1-1
The second half commenced with Ashton once again regaining the ascendency and sould have retaken the lead in the 46th minute as Adam White burst though on goal, but his efforts were denied first by a good save by Mark Canning and then from a narrow angle the follow up shot struck the post.
Castleton’s injury troubles continued to mount as Brad Barrington accidentally kicked the underneath of an Ashton defenders boot and limped off to be replaced by David Jenkins.
Ashton were dominating possession but finding it hard to break down a stubborn Gabriels back line with the final pass lacking the quality needed to create a clear opening. Castleton battled away, playing on the break and feeding off any indecision in the Ashton passing, and against the run of play Castleton had a half chance in the 59th minute when Ashton failed to clear the ball in a penalty box scramble. The loose ball fell to Andrew Pheby who played in Christian Evans, but his effort on goal failed to trouble Ashton keeper Paxton and it would have been chalked off anyway as the referees assistant had his flag raised for off-side.
The introduction in a ten minute after the hour mark in the game proved decisive as Daniel Hitchen and Chris Almond replaced the injured Pat Aspinall and Dave Sherlock, whilst the fresh legs of Steve Wallace were introduced for the hard working Jimmy Porter.
The fresh legs and the better fitness levels of Ashton's other players was a key factor and some sloppy passing gave the Ashton side possession that suddenly became more efficiently used and substitute and new signing Chris Almond pounced in the 82nd minute to score from close range following a great though ball from Ashton's left.
Almond then went close again with a good effort that skimmed past the Castleton near post. As the clock ran down good work down the right by Steve Wallace in the 88th minute forced a corner, which found its way through a crowded 6 yard box to an unmarked Daniel Hitchen to head home, againfrom close range 3-1 to Ashton, and game over.
Another all action quality display by young Dave Sherlock earned him the Ashton MoM ward, whilst the midfield effrots of Matt Jackson earned him the Castleton accolade.
Meanwhile the reserve team went down narrowly by 2-3 to Glossop North End in their first league game, with strikes from Pete Tarpey and Colin Gillespie not quite enough to earn points, and gilt edged chances missed throughout the match left all wondering what might have been.
Next weekend will see Ashton back at Brocstedes Park for a match with Padiham (3pm KO), when it is hoped that the great away form in the last two games can be replicated. The reserves will be away at Cheadle Town.
Back to back victories for Ashton gives the team a great start to the season.
Ashton started that game very brightly putting Gabs on the back foot with some incisive passing and this provided instant reward as Mike Johnson threaded the ball through to Dave Sherlock on the right wing who put in a pin point cross for Paul Townshend sliding in at the back post. 1-0 to Ashton
Ashton continued to dominate the play using the wide men to maximum effect but the final delivery or pass was not quite tuned in the the runs of the attackers enabling the Gabs defence to clear the lines.
Credit Castleton they kept plugging away and the hard work of Matt Jackson and Dean Watkinson in the midfield gradually gave Gabs a platform in the game and having done so, and from the first major threat on the Ashton goal a superb cross swung in by Brad Barrington was met in the 24th minute by the head of Dean Watkinson and flew into the back of the net. 1-1.
Chances were few and far between for the rest of the half, but a blow for Castleton came when centre half Michael Ward was taken off the pitch due to an ankle injury and replaced by Lee Chadwick.HT 1-1
The second half commenced with Ashton once again regaining the ascendency and sould have retaken the lead in the 46th minute as Adam White burst though on goal, but his efforts were denied first by a good save by Mark Canning and then from a narrow angle the follow up shot struck the post.
Castleton’s injury troubles continued to mount as Brad Barrington accidentally kicked the underneath of an Ashton defenders boot and limped off to be replaced by David Jenkins.
Ashton were dominating possession but finding it hard to break down a stubborn Gabriels back line with the final pass lacking the quality needed to create a clear opening. Castleton battled away, playing on the break and feeding off any indecision in the Ashton passing, and against the run of play Castleton had a half chance in the 59th minute when Ashton failed to clear the ball in a penalty box scramble. The loose ball fell to Andrew Pheby who played in Christian Evans, but his effort on goal failed to trouble Ashton keeper Paxton and it would have been chalked off anyway as the referees assistant had his flag raised for off-side.
The introduction in a ten minute after the hour mark in the game proved decisive as Daniel Hitchen and Chris Almond replaced the injured Pat Aspinall and Dave Sherlock, whilst the fresh legs of Steve Wallace were introduced for the hard working Jimmy Porter.
The fresh legs and the better fitness levels of Ashton's other players was a key factor and some sloppy passing gave the Ashton side possession that suddenly became more efficiently used and substitute and new signing Chris Almond pounced in the 82nd minute to score from close range following a great though ball from Ashton's left.
Almond then went close again with a good effort that skimmed past the Castleton near post. As the clock ran down good work down the right by Steve Wallace in the 88th minute forced a corner, which found its way through a crowded 6 yard box to an unmarked Daniel Hitchen to head home, againfrom close range 3-1 to Ashton, and game over.
Another all action quality display by young Dave Sherlock earned him the Ashton MoM ward, whilst the midfield effrots of Matt Jackson earned him the Castleton accolade.
Meanwhile the reserve team went down narrowly by 2-3 to Glossop North End in their first league game, with strikes from Pete Tarpey and Colin Gillespie not quite enough to earn points, and gilt edged chances missed throughout the match left all wondering what might have been.
Next weekend will see Ashton back at Brocstedes Park for a match with Padiham (3pm KO), when it is hoped that the great away form in the last two games can be replicated. The reserves will be away at Cheadle Town.
Back to back victories for Ashton gives the team a great start to the season.
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DP at 12:24 PM
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