A share of the spoils for Ashton and Bootle as Black and White strike

It was all square at Brocstedes Park as Ashton's defence pitted its wits against Vodkat League 2 top scorers Bootle FC, who have returned 15 goals in their last three games.

In the end it was both defences that came out on top as goals Ashton's Adam White and Bootle's Kevin Black were able to breakthrough with long range efforts.

Ashton started brightly as Paul Townshend turned sharply on the edge of the box unleashed a powerful shot that was bound for the bottom corner before a last ditch block deflected the effort past the post.

Bootle looked dangerous on the break with Andy Fowler a constant threat, and Fowler beat his man and rattled a shot against the upright in the 6th minute and then a Jamie Hay long range effort took a deflection and had Ashton keeper Hewitt scrambling to save.
A mistimed clearance by Hewitt then presented Bootle with another opportunity but recovering defenders swatted out the chance.
On 9 minutes an Ashton set piece was repelled by Bootle but the clearance fell to Adam White who volleyed over the head of Bootle keeper Parkinson and into the top corner to give Ashton the lead. 1-0.
A midfield stalemate tightened up clear cut chances until a Mike Burke pass was cut out in midfield and Fowler was put through but Hewitt had his angles worked out and forced him to shoot wide.
In the 38th minute a super through ball by Steve Rothwell found Chris Almond whose first touch took him into the box and in across the front of defender Dale who took out Almond, and with both teams expecting a penalty to everyone's amazement the referee waved play on.
As half time approached Bootle pressed for the equaliser forcing a goal mouth scramble and a half clearance fell to Kevin Black on the edge of the Ashton box who drove the ball into the bottom corner through a crowded area, giving Ashton keeper Hewitt little chance of saving. 1-1. HT.

The second half took a similar pattern as the first with both teams having their fair share of possession and territory however Ashton proved to be a more potent threat on the opponents goal.
For Ashton a Paul Mcveigh header skimmed the crossbar from a Steve Bennett cross before a Mike Burke header from a corner flashed wide from close range.
Bootle's winger Paul Hopkins flashed across along the six yard box but the lone striker Fowler could not latch onto the cross and the ball went to safety.
A draw looked on the cards but Ashton had other ideas as first a tricky run by Simon Gallanders broke free in the Bootle box, bearing down on keeper Parkinson drove the ball towards the top corner but a reflex save diverted the ball away for a corner. A minute later a short corner allowed Steve Wallace to put in a pin point cross onto the header of top scorer Paul McVeigh 6 yards out and his powerful header was angled into the corner of the goal but again Parkinson pulled off a miraculous save to deny Ashton the lead, and all three points.
As the final whistle approached both team defences tightened up to stiffle the advances of the attacking players and perhaps reflected an appropriate reward from a hard fought contest.
Man of the match awards for Ashton's midfield dynamo Adam White, whilst Bootle's rock in defence, Carl Dale won his teams accolade.
On Saturday Ashton travel to Staffordshire for a 3pm kick off to play Eccleshall in a Vodkat league match before another away match on Tuesday night, taking on Vodkat League One team Ramsbottom United in the second round of the Coop Lancashire Cup on Tuesday night, 7.45pm kick off

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