DO WE NOT LIKE ORANGE!!

GOLDLINE TROPHY SEMI FINAL at Chorley FC

Monday 28^th November 2007

Euxton Villa 2 Ashton Athletic 0 [AET]

A healthy crowd at Victory Park enjoyed a ding dong cup tie that saw Euxton Villa of the West Lancs League progressed to meet Charnock Richard FC in the prestigious Goldline final at the Reebok in the New Year.

Euxton had to dig deep into their reserves to edge out Ashton and had some inconsistent refereeing and in particular two controversial decisions by the officials to thank for gifting them the result. The first of which could have won the game for Ashton in the last 10 minutes of normal time as a Paul McVeigh header was chalked off by the linesman. A 30 yard thunderbolt from Adam White came back off the underside of the bar and on the turn McVeigh reacted first, peeled off his defender following in the shot to bag the rebound and head the ball into the net. The late flag by the assistant referee was flawed but the referee had no option but to concur and without question ordered the goal to be disallowed.

Then midway through the first period of extra time a two handed push on an Ashton player was completely ignored by the referee despite being on top of the incident and perversely a free kick was awarded to Euxton in a dangerous position 15 yards outside the Ashton box. A quality delivery was delivered into the box, evaded two would be clearers of the ball for Ashton as they were “nudged” out of the way and instead the ball dropped onto the edge of the six yard box, hit the leg of Euxton’s Sam Bolton and trickled into the corner of the goal to give Euxton the all important first score.

Euxton played too well and battled too hard to be presented with the result in this way, but that’s football and it is certain that they will gladly accept these flawed decisions and will no doubt point towards being on the wrong end of some bizarre decisions themselves throughout the match but thankfully these proved not to be game deciders.

From the first whistle Villa went on the offensive, with Tom Whittaker flashing a wicked shot across goal from a measured Stuart Bingham pass. Five minutes later, it was George Craddock’s turn to do likewise from the other side in a mirror image move, but neither got close enough to worry Ashton’s keeper Paxton.

The first 25 minutes certainly belonged to Villa with several chances coming and going, but without the Ashton keeper being seriously troubled. Sam Bolton went closest, heading narrowly over from a Mat Atherton corner.

However as the half wore on Ashton settled and began to ask their opponents some serious questions of their own. A whipped in corner had the Euxton defence scrambling and keeper Ross Baxter pulled of a spectacular save low to his left, and the follow up shot was cleared off the line.

A driving run from Chris Almond ended with powerful shot that Baxter turn around his post and then again Almond found room down the left wing to deliver a cross that found the head of McVeigh whose flick reached Simon Gallanders however the ball would not come down quick enough and he volleyed over the top. Just before half time HT 0-0

A more end to end contest unfolded in the second half. Ashton came close to drawing first blood with a great cross that reached McVeigh at the front post but his first time shot flew past the post.

Euxton’s Whittaker combined with Phil Woodman to produce a fine diving save at his feet by Paxton. Minutes later, another Atherton corner found Whittaker in the clear beyond the far post, but his blast from the corner of the box flew inches over.

With the game entering the last quarter, Ashton looked the stronger, with Villa beginning to show signs of the night’s endeavours starting to take their toll. Baxter produced a miraculous double save to turn the ball round the post, and with five minutes of normal time left, a thunderbolt from thirty yards nearly uprooted post and bar, and although the rebound was neatly tucked away by McVeigh, the final strike was from an off-side position – BUT NOT WHEN THE SHOT WAS TAKEN Mr Linesman!

Extra time started with neither side looking like they were content to leave their fate to the dreaded penalty shoot-out as play swung to and fro, but Ashton still looking the fitter and most threatening.

Towards the end of the first period of extra time, Villa were awarded the controversial a free kick forty yards from goal after a foul on an Ashton player! Stuart Bingham delivered a vicious in swinging cross, which neither keeper nor defender could deal with, and Sam Bolton was in the right place at the right time as the ball struck his leg and rolled over the line.

Ashton threw everything at their opponents in the second period, and again hit woodwork, as Chris Lawton showed great agility to get over the ball but his powerful volley from close range rattled the upright with the keeper well beaten. Inevitably, space began to open up as Ashton pushed forward, and a long ball from out of the Villa defence reached Craddock alongside his marker and on the ball. As defender Rothwell caught up Craddock cleverly cut across the defenders line of recovery and accidental contact occurred and Craddock went sprawling to the ground thirty yards from goal. As the referee reached immediately for his back pocket Ashton’s skipper trudged off.

From the resultant free kick, taken from at least 5 yards nearer the Ashton goal than the incident occurred up stepped Damian Stewart, and with as sweetly struck a shot, fired his side into what would prove to be an unassailable position.

A memorable occasion for Euxton and one in which their players gave everything and built on a tremendous display of defending from every department, with shots blocked, passes intercepted and crosses cut off at source. Not surprising that keeper Baxter got the Euxton Man of the Match award although he was pushed all the way by Ross Dickenson with a tremendous effort at Centre half.

For Ashton, who were almost to a man strangely below par particularly in the opening 30 minutes of the game, but the cutting edge of Chris Almond throughout the whole 120 minutes was the Latics’ stand out player.

An extremely disappointing outcome for Ashton but trying to look on the bright side it is another step forward in the Club’s development, reaching the semi final stage for the first time in five attempts – there is always next season!

Quality match photographs available for viewing and purchase at :-

http://www.celebritypixuk.co.uk/slideshow23829.html

Focus must be quickly regained as another cup match is on the horizon this Saturday with a trip to Padiham FC for a second Round Vodkat Division Two trophy match, Kick of 3pm at The Arbories.