Lancs Cup success for Ashton

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 2 AAFC 4 after extra time
Coop Lancashire County Cup Round 2

Ashton progressed into the quarter finals of the Coop Lancashire County cup by taking another Vodkat League One side scalp in the form of Ramsbottom United, following hot on the heels of previous FA Vase wins over Congleton and Colne.
The match was more than eventful with some strange refereeing decisions throughout the night for both sides that at times threatened to boil over with both sets of players, managers and supporters puzzled by numerous calls by the officials. A red card and 3 yellow cards for both teams makes the game sound like a pitched battled, but that it was certainly not as both teams played hard and fair producing some excellent football until the frustration with the decisions got to the players particularly in extra time.
Early in the first half Tom Potter produced a great cross which Paul Townshend header over at full stretch and then John Blackley forced a good save from Ashton's keeper Hewitt taking advantage of a half clearance after a corner.
In the 6th minute lively striker Lee Cryer got a yard on his marker and whipped in a diagonal cross come shot from 25 yards that sailed over the head of Hewitt and into the far top corner to give the home side the lead. 1-0 Ramsbottom
Hewitt was then called into action to save a good effort from Dave Hanlon but from then on Ashton started to find the passing range and had a purple patch as two efforts from Townshend and then Steve Bennett forced Ramsbottom keeper Steve Dryden to save. Ramsbottom were penned back deep in their own half with Ashton probing down both flanks. The prolonged pressure finally produced dividends as Mark Court helped the ball back into the penalty box and a half clearance by the defence fell into the path of Chris Almond who smashed the ball into the top corner. 1-1

Ashton continued to press forward but the equaliser provoked a response from the Vodkat League One side and as half time approached two smart breaks produced chances for Cryer, from a Ben Kitchen cross saved by Hewitt and then a long range attempt by Kitchen that flew over the bar. HT 1-1
Ashton endeavoured to wrestle back the initiative early in the second half and a terrific volley from Paul Townshend after 51 minutes almost did the trick but the effort skimmed over the bar. Then a moment of controversy, as not for the first or last time referee O'Neil awarded the home side a free kick this time on the say so of his assistant despite the fact that the linesman was on the blind side and further from the tackle when the Ashton defender had won the ball cleanly. From the free kick deadball specialist Dave Hanlon looped a great free kick over wall that dipped into the bottom corner and gave Hewitt little chance to save. 2-1 to Ramsbottom.
Another Hanlon free kick tested Hewitt again minutes later but this time the Ashton keeper came out on top.
Wallace penalty puts Ashton on equal terms
Ashton fought back and Mike Burke was disappointed to place his header over the bar from a Tom Potter corner before minutes later Ashton drew level as a diagonal ball into the bax from Steve Wallace found Paul Townshend who was haled to the ground by his marker preventing an attempt on goal, Penalty awarded which Steve Wallace duly dispatched in the 60th minute. 2-2
Then the most controvertial incident of the night as Ramsbottom attempted to make a substitution, the replacement Brendan O'Shaughnessy became involved with the assistant referee, and when the man in the middle was called over to everyone's amazement he was shown the red card - that refs report will make interesting reading!!
With Ramsbottom reduced to ten men Ashton found more space and created several oppoprtunities with Chris Almond heading over the top from a Steve Rothwell cross and then Almond was played in by Gallanders in the 67th minute with a threaded path and as Almond took a touch he was pulled back by the chasing defender when clean though in the box. So obvious was this a penalty and a probable second red card for the defender that all and sundry were totally amazed that the referee awarded a free kick outside the box and never spoke a word to the offender.
Then again in the 80th minute a driving run into the box by Steve Bennett took him beyond the defence and his legs were taken from under him as he bore down on goal. Again a stone wall penalty and perhaps a yellow card this time should have been the automatic response, but no the referee just played on. Steve Bennett was then played in by Townshend and a last ditch tackle saved a certain goal, and a minute later Burke had a header cleared off the line which guaranteed extra time. FT 2-2
With the ten men tiring Ashton maintained the upper hand as Chris Alomnd again came close with another powerful shot the Dryden could only parry back to Paul Mcveigh whose effort was cleared off the line.
Ashton got their noses in front in the 98th minute as a well flighted Ste Wallace free kick found Chris Lawton ghosting in at the far post to head home. 3-2
Lawton gets the all important
breakthrough in extra time
Hanlon kept Ashton and keeper Hewitt on their toes and forced another good save from Hewitt before the extra time turn around.
The result was put beyond doubt as Ashton's Man of the match Chris Almond pounced onto a loose ball in the box to give his team breathing space. 4-2
Daniel Hitchen then had a late effort saved by Dryden that could have extended the lead and then in last 5 minutes of the game frustrations came to the fore as several over the top challenges from Ramsbottom, clearly seeking retribution for perceived injustices. These poor challenges went unpunished by the officials which in turn infuriated the Ashton contingency, and in particular Adam White who responded in the wrong (and uncharacteristic) way by catching full back Matt Eckersley late in the tackle. This was an opportunity to even cards up, a chance that the referee took with both hands by dismissing White with dramatic effect.
An unfortunate end to the match which was not the blood bath that the cautions and sending off's might suggest but a good contest between two committed side. Full time 4-2

Two goal Almond also
earns the Man of Match

MoM for Ashton was two goal hero Chris Almond whilst Lee Cryer took the Ramsbottom award, a constant danger and showing great effort as a lone striker for almost an hour.
Ashton can now look forward to the quarter final draw, to be made on BBC Radio Lancashire on the non league hour on Friday 13th November, and the prospect of pitting their wits and skills against a Unibond or Conference North side.
Before that there is the subject of a Vodkat League Cup match at Brocstedes Park this Saturday against Bootle FC