Ashton lost in the fog at Fylde

SATURDAY 29^TH NOVEMBER

VODKAT LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

AFC Fylde 6 Ashton Athletic 0

In foggy conditions Ashton were outclassed by big spenders AFC Fylde on Saturday, and unusually for Ashton were also outworked by the home side who coasted to a comfortable victory that sent them 5 points clear at the top of the Vodkat Premier League.

The rout started in the 7^th minute as Fylde striker Mark Wane lost his marker and headed home unchallenged, and then in the 14^th minute with Ashton failing to tighten up in defence a Mick Horsfall shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection and left keeper Joe Brobbin wrong footed to increase the lead.

Ashton finally woke up to the fact that they were playing the runaway league leaders and current FA Vase holders and finally started to compete. In quick succession two Kev Kynaston efforts from just inside the box might have brought Ashton back into the game but the efforts were well saved by Fylde keeper Pete Summerfield. However from almost the last kick of the first half Fylde nailed Ashton with a killer blow as Joe Booth stole in to poke the ball into the net from close range after good work by Mick Horsfall.

Any prospect of a second half revival was laid to rest as yet again slack marking in the box allowed Sean Patterson a free header in the 56^th minute, once again giving keeper Brobbin no chance. Ashton were deflated and to make matters worse were reduced to 10 men as Kev Kynaston was given his marching orders for getting involved in a scuffle with the two Fylde centre halves.

Soon after, Man of the Match Mike Clark scored Fylde’s 5^th goal with a well placed shot from the edge of the box and then in the final throws of the match sub Matty Walwyn fired home his teams 6^th goal.

A resounding defeat for Ashton and one which must be used to spur the side on to greater efforts in the next game on Saturday at home to Formby FC, 3pm KO.

Coincidentally Ashton Reserves won by the same 6-0 margin against 2^nd placed Colne FC in the Vodkat League Reserve Division. The highlight of the victory was a hat trick from Paul Townshend and a superb strike by Paul Hynes, and the win takes the team up to 6^th spot in the league.
The Reserves now face AFC Liverpool Reserves this Saturday, a game which will take place at Formby FC’s ground as AFC Liverpool are currently without a ground of their own.