Saturday 24th November 2007 Blackpool Mechanics 0 Ashton Athletic 2

A goal in each half got Ashton back to winning ways after last week’s FA Vase exit at Billingham, a result that moves the Latics back up to 3^rd place in the Vodkat League. Against a youthful Mechanics side Ashton were always in control of the game and secured the points with two clinical finishes.

Ashton gave a full debut to new signing Tim Lees in the heart of the midfield whilst Mark Court returned to the starting line up at centre back. Dave Sherlock also returned to the starting line up after his long term injury lay off and more than made up for lost time.

The swirling wind that was in evidence at kick off was soon joined by driving rain, and it was hardly surprising that the opening 20 minutes produced little in the way of clear cut chances as both sides struggled to master the difficult conditions. The best chance in this phase of the game fell to the returning Dave Sherlock who latched on to a through ball by Mike Burke before shooting high and wide from a difficult angle

It took until the 23^rd minute before a real goalscoring opportunity of note was created, when Athletic’s Paul Townshend glanced a header into the path of David Sherlock who misplaced a shot over the bar from 20 yards.

The Mechanics defence were struggling to cope with the aerial threat of Townsend up front, and he created another chance on the half hour mark when his delicate flick played Chris Almond in on goal, but Mechanics keeper Jamie Cook thwarted the danger by quickly scooping the ball up as Almond shaped to shoot for goal.

The respite was only temporary however, as the visitors went ahead in the 34^th minute. A wind assisted clearance from Athletic keeper Andy Paxton landed on the edge of the Mechanics penalty area, and having got his sights right from the first two efforts it was third time lucky as David Sherlock deftly lobbed the ball over the advancing Cook and into the corner of the net. 1-0

Four minutes from the break, Sherlock turned creator when a defence splitting pass played Chris Almond through, but Mechaincs keeper Cook reacted quickly to thwart the danger as he plucked the ball off the striker’s toe on the edge of the box.

Mechanics’ best move of the first half arrived just on half time, when Mark Ashall released Chris Cairns free on the right, and when he whipped a low cross into the six yard box the incoming Joe Cowell just failed to connect. HT 1-0

Any hopes Mechanics had of getting back into the game were dashed four minutes into the second half, when they fell further behind. A great through ball by Sherlock allowed Chris Almond to run unchallenged from the halfway line before deftly clipping the ball over the advancing keeper into the far corner of the net to double his side’s lead. 2-0

Mechanics squandered a glorious chance to get back in the game on 57 minutes, when Chris Days free kick was headed wide by Chris Cairns from 8 yards out.

At the midway point of the second half, a sweeping move from Athletic almost produced a third goal, Tim Lees sending Tom Potter free on the left, and when he whipped in a cross to the far post, Paul McVeigh’s volley beat the keeper but hit the side netting.Potter again got free down the left and unleashed a drive that was well saved by the Blackpool keeper in the 74th minute

As the game entered its closing stages, a long range effort from Mechanics Chris Days was beaten away by Ashton keeper Paxton, and at the other end, the lively Tom Potter was unlucky to see his shot from 12 yards beat the keeper and rebound off the underside of the crossbar.

In the 80th minute Sherlock broke free again down the right and having beat two defenders he had his legs taken from under him by a third defender as he advanced on goal, but much to everyone's amazement the referee who was on top of the incident looked to the assistant referee who was on the blind side and further away from the incident instead of giving the blatant penalty himself.

To their credit, Mechanics kept going, and in the dying moments created a couple of half chances. After Chris Days’ long range shot was pushed away for a corner by Ashton keeper Paxton, a Chris Cairns header from the resulting corner was comfortably cleared off the line. Straight away Mechanics regained possession once more, and the last opportunity of the game fell to Wayne Gardiner, whose overhead kick from eight yards failed to trouble keeper Paxton.
FT 2-0

Man of the Match for Ashton went to Dave Sherlock, whilst the efforts of Chris Cairns leading the line for the Mechanics got the nod.

A workman like performance from Ashton in difficult conditions and the team will now move on to two cup matches on the bounce. The first is the Goldline Trophy semi final against Euxton Villa to be played at Chorley FC this Monday 26^th November 2007 7.45pm kick off, and the prize for the winners will be a cup final date at the Reebok Stadium in the New Year against Charnock Richard FC.

Then on Saturday 1^st December Ashton travel to Padiham FC for a second Round Vodkat Trophy match 3pm KO.

Ashton reserves broke their run of defeats with a 1-1 draw against Mechanics reserves as Martin Ormesher netted Ashton's goal before an injury time equaliser denied Ashton the 3 points.

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