Second half blitz bags 3 more away points for Ashton
Vodkat Premier Division
Wednesday 1st April 2009
Nelson FC 1 Ashton Athletic 4
Ashton maintained their excellent away form with a third win in a row when they breezed past Nelson four goals to one on Wednesday night.
Ashton had already beaten Nelson on two previous occasions this season and the home side would have hoped for better this time round. However, Ashton had other ideas and exerted early pressure with Dave Sherlock and Richard Sharpe having attempts saved by goalkeeper Matthew Pilkington before John Bathurst slipped through the Blues defence and turned the ball past the advancing keeper and into the unguarded net after 15 minutes.
The visitors showed plenty of attacking ideas and linked well to find openings in the Nelson defence. Last ditch tackles by Darren Wright and Marc Taylor were needed to prevent Ashton from extending their lead, whilst keeper Pilkington took down Richard Sharpe just inside the box but the referee waved play on. Nelson's attacks by comparison were disjointed.
Isaac Kusaloka was bundled off the ball by two defenders as he tried to make a run into the penalty area and Marc Berry saw his well struck shot blocked by team-mate Alex Mugan as Nelson desperately tried to get on level terms.
The Blues must have felt that the tide had turned after 41 minutes when Krystian Liptrot rose high at the far post to head Luke Hargreaves' curling free kick back across goal and into the net via the woodwork to equalise.
The second half began with Nelson on the attack and Kusaloka chipped the ball just over the visitors' crossbar after Mugan's header had released him for a run on goal. But Ashton were quickly on the counterattack and again the Nelson defence were at full stretch with Darren Wright denying Adam Hallam with a vital tackle and Marc Berry heading the ball out of the Blues' goalmouth from Dale Sealey's deliberate chip to the far post.
After 56 minutes, an attacking move on the left wing resulted in a diagonal cross into the Nelson goalmouth and David Sherlock met it perfectly to sidefoot in Ashton's second goal from six yards out. Three minutes later, Matthew Pilkington made an instinctive save to knock Adam Hallam's shot over his crossbar as the Blues defence came under more pressure.
In the 62nd, an Ashton corner found Dale Sealey in front of goal and his downward header into the net gave Pilkington no chance as the visitors stretched their lead to 3-1.
Four minutes later, Richard Sharpe's run took him past Pilkington but Darren Wright got back to block his shot in the Nelson goalmouth. After 75 minutes, David Sherlock cut into the Nelson penalty area from the right wing and was tripped by Luke Hargreaves as he went past him. The resultant penalty was driven home by Neil Davies to give Ashton a 4-1 lead.
Luke Hargreaves almost atoned for his mistake with a 30 yard free kick which keeper Alan Fitzpatrick turned round the post with an excellent save. Adam Hayton was pulled back by defenders on the edge of the visitors' penalty area but the free kick was given just outside the box and Marc Berry's shot looped wide of the post as the Blues tried to reduce the deficit.
But in the last minute, Simon Gallanders looked set to add a fifth goal for Ashton when his run took him past Matthew Pilkington before Krystian Liptrot made a brilliant tackle to dispossess him eight yards from goal.
Ashton return to action at home with 3 games in quick succession. On Saturday Atherton LR are the visitors in a 3pm KO and then Ashton face Standish St Wilfrids in the Wigan Cup Quarter Final on Monday 6th April 7.15 KO, followed by a league encounter the following night after against Silsden FC 7.45pm KO
Success as well in midweek for Ashton’s Reserve team, as they progressed to the Reserve Division Cup Semi final with a fine 3-1 win against Cheadle Town Reserves on Tuesday night. Mike Rhead was on target twice with a first half penalty and then an extra time tap in after good work by Kev Kynaston. Then it was Kynaston who was on hand to seal the victory and set up a semi final tie against New Mills FC in two weeks time. Before that the Reserves travel to New Mills this Saturday for a league match, 3pm KO.
Wednesday 1st April 2009
Nelson FC 1 Ashton Athletic 4
Ashton maintained their excellent away form with a third win in a row when they breezed past Nelson four goals to one on Wednesday night.
Ashton had already beaten Nelson on two previous occasions this season and the home side would have hoped for better this time round. However, Ashton had other ideas and exerted early pressure with Dave Sherlock and Richard Sharpe having attempts saved by goalkeeper Matthew Pilkington before John Bathurst slipped through the Blues defence and turned the ball past the advancing keeper and into the unguarded net after 15 minutes.
The visitors showed plenty of attacking ideas and linked well to find openings in the Nelson defence. Last ditch tackles by Darren Wright and Marc Taylor were needed to prevent Ashton from extending their lead, whilst keeper Pilkington took down Richard Sharpe just inside the box but the referee waved play on. Nelson's attacks by comparison were disjointed.
Isaac Kusaloka was bundled off the ball by two defenders as he tried to make a run into the penalty area and Marc Berry saw his well struck shot blocked by team-mate Alex Mugan as Nelson desperately tried to get on level terms.
The Blues must have felt that the tide had turned after 41 minutes when Krystian Liptrot rose high at the far post to head Luke Hargreaves' curling free kick back across goal and into the net via the woodwork to equalise.
The second half began with Nelson on the attack and Kusaloka chipped the ball just over the visitors' crossbar after Mugan's header had released him for a run on goal. But Ashton were quickly on the counterattack and again the Nelson defence were at full stretch with Darren Wright denying Adam Hallam with a vital tackle and Marc Berry heading the ball out of the Blues' goalmouth from Dale Sealey's deliberate chip to the far post.
After 56 minutes, an attacking move on the left wing resulted in a diagonal cross into the Nelson goalmouth and David Sherlock met it perfectly to sidefoot in Ashton's second goal from six yards out. Three minutes later, Matthew Pilkington made an instinctive save to knock Adam Hallam's shot over his crossbar as the Blues defence came under more pressure.
In the 62nd, an Ashton corner found Dale Sealey in front of goal and his downward header into the net gave Pilkington no chance as the visitors stretched their lead to 3-1.
Four minutes later, Richard Sharpe's run took him past Pilkington but Darren Wright got back to block his shot in the Nelson goalmouth. After 75 minutes, David Sherlock cut into the Nelson penalty area from the right wing and was tripped by Luke Hargreaves as he went past him. The resultant penalty was driven home by Neil Davies to give Ashton a 4-1 lead.
Luke Hargreaves almost atoned for his mistake with a 30 yard free kick which keeper Alan Fitzpatrick turned round the post with an excellent save. Adam Hayton was pulled back by defenders on the edge of the visitors' penalty area but the free kick was given just outside the box and Marc Berry's shot looped wide of the post as the Blues tried to reduce the deficit.
But in the last minute, Simon Gallanders looked set to add a fifth goal for Ashton when his run took him past Matthew Pilkington before Krystian Liptrot made a brilliant tackle to dispossess him eight yards from goal.
Ashton return to action at home with 3 games in quick succession. On Saturday Atherton LR are the visitors in a 3pm KO and then Ashton face Standish St Wilfrids in the Wigan Cup Quarter Final on Monday 6th April 7.15 KO, followed by a league encounter the following night after against Silsden FC 7.45pm KO
Success as well in midweek for Ashton’s Reserve team, as they progressed to the Reserve Division Cup Semi final with a fine 3-1 win against Cheadle Town Reserves on Tuesday night. Mike Rhead was on target twice with a first half penalty and then an extra time tap in after good work by Kev Kynaston. Then it was Kynaston who was on hand to seal the victory and set up a semi final tie against New Mills FC in two weeks time. Before that the Reserves travel to New Mills this Saturday for a league match, 3pm KO.
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DP at 10:08 AM
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