Four star Ashton shoot into 2nd spot

Saturday 22^nd December 2007

AAFC 4 Leek CSOB 0

Ashton returned to league action at the weekend and secured the three points that takes them into second place in the Vodkat North West Counties Division Two.

Saturday’s visitors, Leek CSOB had no response to Ashton’s fire power and Chris Almond opened the scoring in the 15^th minute from a cross by Pat Aspinall which found the head of Almond at the far post, who made no mistake. 1-0

A cross from the right by Steve Wallace after 25 minutes then found Almond at the near post but this time his first time shot flashed wide.

Leek fought back forcing a series of free kicks and corners but the Ashton defence held firm with Leek’s best effort coming from Michael Machin with a curling free kick that Andy Hewitt tipped over the bar in the 35^th minute. Almond then provided a cross from left that wingman Dave Sherlock slotted the wrong side of the near post.

Ashton increased their lead as smart work down the left by Simon Gallanders sliced through the Leek defence and a composed pass to the back post found Mike Johnson who kept a cool head to place the ball into the net. 2-0 HT

Ashton started the second half brightly as Gallanders again broke free and cossed to the near post wher Almond once again got their first but his acrobatic volley skimmed the top of the bar.

Leek’s Darren Baker was then played in by Anthony Tarr but his shot was sliced wide when it had seemed easier to score. Andy Hewitt was once again called upon and a double save in the 52^nd minute first from Tarr and then from Paul Rutter kept Ashton’s lead intact.

The result was then put beyond any doubt as Chris Lawton slammed home Ashton’s third from 10 yards after a goal mouth scramble fell kindly to him in the 65^th Minute. 3-0

Substitutes Mark Ashurst, and debutants Clive Locke and James Lawless were introduced and the fresh legs continued to exert pressure on the staining Leek defence. Teenager, Lawless broke down the right on several occasions showing his great potential whilst Locke was in the thick of it with two early strikes from advanced positions.

Leek introduced their own substitutes who wrestled back some of the play and one of the replacements, Gareth Rowe forced Andy Hewitt to make another great save in the 81^st minute.

The icing on the cake for Ashton came in the 85^th minute when Clive Locke again found a good position in the box and this time curled the ball across the keeper and into the top corner. 4-0 FT

A great all round performance from the Ashton side with some top draw performances none better then striker Chris Almond who was a thorn in Leek’s side throughout the game, and who claimed Ashton’s man on the match. Leek’s top man was full back Nick Lewis a consistent performer throughout.

The result moves Ashton up a place into second spot ahead of Oldham Town but still 8 points adrift of runaway league leaders New Mills and it will be essential that this form is maintained over the holiday period and into the New Year in order close the gap with the leaders.

The Boxing Day derby match against Ashton Town now beckons for the Latics with a 3pm kick off at Edge Green Street, quickly followed by a home match against Eccleshall FC on Saturday 29^th December 3pm KO.