Saturday 5th April 2008 Ashton Athletic 0, Kirkham & Wesham 2

Ashton Athletic 0, Kirkham & Wesham 2 (HT: 0-2)

Kirkham & Wesham scorers: Clark 13, Paterson 35.
Att: 65

After two tight games in the Division two trophy two legged semi final’s over the last few weeks Ashton were hopeful of a producing a shock against this season’s FA Vase finalists.

These hopes were dashed with two first half strikes by Kirkham as a deflected free kick effort from Mike Clarke and a tap in by Sean Patterson secured the points for the visitors that put clear daylight between Kirkham in 2^nd place and the rest of the chasing pack, including Ashton.

The loss with a back injury of recently signed experienced keeper Alan Fitzpatrick in the first ten minutes was a blow to the home side but fortunately for Ashton regular keeper Joe Clayton was hand to take over from the bench.

Kirkham started the match the brighter and before his injury Fitzpatrick had to be sharp to take 2 long range efforts. Ashton’s Richard Sharpe then found space behind the Kirkham defence but shot wide.

Then a dubious free kick award against Ashton on the edge of the box was taken by Mike Clarke whose low drive took a deflection off the Ashton wall and nestled into the bottom corner of the goal, with keeper Clayton wrong footed.

Impressive debut from Joe Evans

In a period of the game when defences dominated debutant Joe Evans came closest for Ashton but his 26th minute shot cleared the bar. Then an uncharacteristic loss of possession on the edge of the Ashton box gifted the visitors possession and the very dangerous Ritchie Allen drove to the by line beating two players and rounding keeper Clayton before lofting the ball to the back post for leading scorer Sean Paterson to nod in his 27th goal of the season at the far post after 36 minutes. HT 0-2

Steve Bennett and Rick Allen battle for possession

The second half saw Ashton dominate possession as Kirkham seemed content to sit deep and absorb the pressure whilst hitting Ashton on the break. Despite the pressure the resilient Kirkham defence, superbly marshalled by Phil Thompson held firm. Ashton were restricted to a few wayward long range efforts and several goalmouth scrambles after some dangerous set pieces however there always seemed to be a Kirkham player first to the loose ball to clear to safety.

Adam White holds off a Kirkham attack

Despite Ashton’s domination the clearest chances actually fell to Kirkham’s teenage substitute Matt Walwyn, a half time replacement for the injured Sean Paterson. Breaking down the right Walwyn cut inside and shot from an acute angle but his effort glance off the bar and away to safety and then in the final minute was denied again when he was through one on one with the Ashton substitute ‘keeper Clayton, who smothered his effort.

Clayton receives his Goalkeeper of the month award
Despite the defeat, and after another solid performance Ashton’s teenage keeper Joe Clayton had his effort in previous matches recognised by league official Geoff Wilkinson who presented him with the Vodkat Division Two goalkeeper of the Month award from February.

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