Bennett books semi final date for Ashton.

Vodkat Trophy Quarter Final

Tuesday 12^th February 2008

Oldham Town 2 Ashton Athletic 3 AET

Ashton secured a place in the two legged semi final of the Vodkat League trophy with an impressive and gutsy performance at Oldham Town this week.

Oldham started the game on top, with near misses from James Curley and Stuart McGill whilst an early Adam White long range effort was placed narrowly of target after good wing play by Dave Sherlock.

It was Ashton’s 18 year old wing man Sherlock who drew first blood with a stunning 25 yard shot that swerved and dipped its way into the top corner after 23 minutes to give Ashton the lead. Ashton hit a purple patch and 3 minutes later Sherlock was through on goal again, set loose by Simon Gallanders however his efforts to round the keeper narrowed the angle and his shot struck the far post and bounced to safety. Then Paul Townshend picked out Sherlock to deliver a pin point cross met at full tilt by Tom Potter whose trademark first time shot from the edge of the box crashed against the post and as the rebound fell kindly to Gallanders a despairing block by Town skipper Schofield deflected the shot inches over the bar.

Oldham responded as the lively James Curley broke free from his markers grasp and one on one with Ashton keeper Joe Clayton placed his shot wide. As the half time approached Oldham poured men forward in search of the equaliser and forced Clayton into a series of superb saves that preserved his team’s lead into the half time break.

The second half got underway with both sides playing at a high tempo but the defences kept the upper hand before a well worked short free kick to James Curley gained 10 yards and his shot fizzed over the bar. Then, in the 58^th minute Ashton’s man of the match Simon Gallanders unlocked the Oldham defence with a perfectly weighted through ball to Townshend who took advantage of a favourable bounced in a block challenge with Oldham keeper Matty Blair and slotted the ball into the empty net.

Oldham would not lie down and probed for chink in the Ashton defence, and finally broke through in controversial circumstances following a dubious free kick awarded against Ashton. The resulting set piece was directed towards keeper Clayton who rose to catch the ball only to be bundled to the floor by two Oldham attackers, and as the Ashton players claimed the foul Stuart McGill nipped in to put the ball into the back of the net and reduce the deficit in the 63^rd minute.

Oldham threw caution to the wind but try as they did the Ashton defence would not budge and also had chances to increase the lead on the break. Another refereeing blunder in the 4^th minute of stoppage time as referee Foster back up by his assistant initially signalled for an Ashton goal kick, then a sudden change of mind and a corner was awarded much to Ashton’s frustration. The corner was only half cleared and as the ball was retuned into the crowded box it fell to Oldham’s Damien Schofield to grab an unlikely equaliser and send the game into extra time.

An early burst of attacking football from Ashton in the first period in extra time brought its reward as the fresh legs of substitutes James Lawless and Steve Bennett combined superbly down the Ashton right, and a great run and cross by Lawless reached Bennett who made no mistake from the six yard box to nudge Ashton ahead again.

With both teams showing signs of exhaustion the extra time became a stop start affair and chances were few and far between and with the excellent Ashton defence holding firm Oldham’s endeavours petered out allowing Ashton to progress.

The Oldham victory means Ashton now face a challenging semi final contest against FA Vase quarter finalists Kirkham & Wesham on Saturday 23^rd February at Ashton’s Brocstedes Park with return leg scheduled for Saturday 8^th March at Kirkham.

However before that it is back to Vodkat league action with back to back away trips to Stone Dominoes this Saturday 16^th February, 3pm KO followed quickly by a visit the Chadderton FC on Monday 18^th February 7.45pm KO.