ASHTON UP TO 10TH

SATURDAY 20^TH DECEMBER 2008

VODKAT LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

ASHTON ATHLETIC 3 ABBEY HEY 1

Ashton returned to action on Saturday after a 2 match weather induced lay off and secured the three points with a fine 3-1 win against Abbey Hey FC, on a heavy but playable Brocstedes Park pitch.

A sixth minute strike from Dave Sherlock put Ashton ahead and centre half Lee Edmunds was extremely unlucky not to have increased the lead with two efforts from corners, the first a volley in the 32^nd minute, superbly tipped over the bar by Abbey’s keeper Steve Downs and then moments later a great header rattled the underside of the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

Sherlock was again in the middle of the action as half time loomed, first shooting wide from 18 yards and then feeding in Neil Davies who blasted the ball into the net only to be denied by a late off side flag. Sherlock and strike partner Hynes were also pulled back with late flags from the same assistant referee when latching on to great through balls from deep.

The visitors did have their moments, but the solid Ashton back line stood firm, and also received some assistance of their own woodwork when a well placed free kick by Aide Nevins clipped the outside of the post in the 40^th minute. Nevins had also come close just after Ashton’s first goal forcing a good save with his feet by Joe Brobbin when one on one.

The second half saw Ashton again in the ascendency and Sherlock almost got his second when he beat his defender and unleashed a shot that Downs saved with his feet. A sequence of Ashton set pieces did build pressure that eventually brought reward as a pin point corner by Neil Davies found Chris Lawton on the edge of the 6 yard box, and he made no mistake with a bullet header into the back of the goal in the 52^nd minute.

Good work down the right by Steve Wallace set up Ashton’s third as Joe Evans stole clear in the box and his effort eluded Downs, as the ball squirmed under the keeper’s body.

Abbey’s attacks were restricted by the hard working Ashton midfield but they did force a free kick on the edge of the box in the 78^th minute. The effort was well blocked by Brobbin but the rebound was pounced upon by Carl Maylett who slid the ball home to reduce the deficit.

During the match referee Mark Powell brandished a series of yellow cards to several Ashton players whilst seemingly ignoring similar challenges by the Abbey Hey players. This came home to roost after 82 minutes as a second booking for Chris Lawton resulted in an early bath for the central defender, putting something of a dampener on his much deserved man of the match display.

Ashton’s 10 men muscled up to secure the hard earned points that sees them move back into the top half of the table for the first time since early September and can look forward to a busy festive programme.

First up will be a visit by St Helens Town to Brocstedes Park on Boxing Day for a Vodkat Premier League match 3pm KO. This is quickly followed by two back to back matches with Ramsbottom United the first a Cooperative County Cup match at Ramsbottom on Tuesday 30^th December, 7.45pm KO, and then on Saturday 3^rd January a 3pm kick off in a Vodkat League match back at Ashton.