After a narrow defeat at Steeton on Saturday, Ashton Athletic bounced back with resilience, dispatching AFC Liverpool 3-1 in a thrilling Macron Cup clash on Monday night at Marine FC’s stadium. Eager to put the weekend’s disappointment behind them, Ashton came out with intent from the first whistle, making full use of the artificial pitch to move the ball with pace and precision, keeping the home side under relentless pressure.

The opening breakthrough came on 18 minutes. Capitalizing on a misplaced throw by the AFC Liverpool keeper, Emmanuel Ujahchuku displayed lightning reflexes, intercepting on the left flank. Outpacing his marker, Manny delivered a pinpoint cross that found Jack Smith charging into the box. Smith made no mistake, rifling the ball home with authority to give Ashton a deserved lead.

The Yellows’ momentum only grew. Just minutes later, after a partially cleared ball fell into his path, captain Josh Nicholson unleashed a stunning volley from distance, sending the ball soaring into the top corner. The AFC Liverpool keeper could do nothing but watch, as Nicholson’s perfect strike doubled Ashton’s advantage on 26 minutes.

Despite Ashton’s dominance, AFC Liverpool clawed one back on the stroke of halftime, converting a penalty to make it 2-1. The home side emerged in the second half with a more attacking formation, determined to claw their way back. Ashton, however, remained composed, showcasing resilience and tactical discipline even as the match opened up, with both sides trading blows in a lively second half.

Ashton introduced fresh legs, including the debut of Pierce Ryan from the U21s, adding energy in crucial moments. Yet, it wasn’t until the 89th minute that Ashton sealed the victory. Josh High, returning from injury, seized on a loose ball from a half-cleared cross and calmly slotted it into the bottom corner, sparking jubilant celebrations from the travelling fans.

A clinical, composed performance saw Ashton progress to the next round, taking home a well-earned win over higher-league opposition and making a firm statement of intent in their Macron Cup campaign.

Starting XI
1 Joe Beswick
2 Conal Larkin
3 Kingston David
4 Nathan Whalley
5 Joe White
6 Calum Wilson
7 Joshua Nicholson
8 Niall Partridge
9 Emmanuel Ujahchuku
10 Jack Smith
11 Nathan Beca

Substitutes: Benjamin Mullarkey, Deklan Hill, Jamie Nicholson, Joshua High, Pierce Ryan.

Player of the Match as voted by the fans is Jack Smith with 43.8% of the vote. Well done Jack, great performance!

Attendance 132

Media and Photographs by Nic Cain

Next Five Matches:
Date Opponent K.O.
19/11/24 Atherton LR (A) 19:45
30/11/24 Maghull (A) 15:00
07/12/24 Holker Old Boys (H) 15:00
14/12/24 Thornton Cleveleys (H) 15:00
26/12/24 Atherton LR (A) 15:00

******************************************

Match Preview: AFC Liverpool vs Ashton Athletic
**Macron Cup, 2nd Round – Monday, November 11, 2024, Kick-off: 19:45**

Ashton Athletic prepare for a challenging encounter as they head to Marine's stadium to face AFC Liverpool in the 2nd Round of the Macron Cup. The Yellows will need to dig deep to overcome their Premier Division opponents, who currently sit 7th in the North West Counties Premier League with an impressive 37 points from 22 games. AFC Liverpool come into this fixture in strong form, having secured three victories in their last six matches.

For Ashton, recent results have been a bit disappointing, with their latest outing ending in a frustrating 1-0 defeat away to Steeton. Despite solid performances at the back and hard work across the field, goals have been scarce, and the management will be eager to reignite the spark that saw them achieve success earlier in the season. Monday’s cup clash offers an ideal platform for Ashton to rediscover their form and deliver the type of result that could lift their spirits and momentum.

The stage is set for an electric evening under the floodlights, with fans hoping for a spirited display from both sides. Kick-off is at 19:45, and supporters will be hoping for a thrilling contest as Ashton look to prove themselves against higher-league opposition.

Ground: The Marine Travel Arena
Address: College Road, Crosby, Liverpool
Postcode: L23 3AS