Ashton Athletic 2 v Billinge Juniors 3

The squad that turned up last night was threadbare and ridden with injuries. Billinge were still bereft of top scorer Frederick, Hamilton the ever present goalkeeper and Bradbury tonight and the context of this victory must be set against this.

Ashton with all their players available, having moved the game to Thursday, will still feel disappointed they did not get at least a point or even a victory in what can only be described as a “smash and grab” raid if the final 20 minutes are anything to go by as Ashton at 2-2, after twice coming from behind, pushed for all three points but were sunk by a Leyland goal in the last five minutes.

The first shot of the game came on 5 minutes as Bradshaw put Leland through but his shot was well saved by Clark. After 20 minutes Billinge went ahead as a Sinnott corner was half cleared to Bibby, whose shot from the edge of the area through a sea of bodies, was struck into the right corner. That was Bibby’s first goal of the Season for the Sunday team.

Billinge continued to probe with Fletches superb through ball saw Leyland marginally offside when clean through again. Seven minutes later Ashton equalised through Craig as his shot from the edge of the area cannoned of Ayres heel into the net via a wicked deflection. After 24 minutes a superb first time through ball from Rooke let Leyland in again but Clark came out well to smother.

Just before half time Bradshaw collected the ball in his own half, ran the entire length of the pitch unchallenged, and unleashed a shot which went in off Clarke’s head into the corner from 20 yards.

At 2-1 up there was still plenty of work to do and so it proved, Ashton drew level from another corner as the ball fell for Ryan who finished well from the edge of the area. Then Ashton began to get into the game and Deano who has been excellent deputising for Hamilton, dived full length from a shot from Ben. Then on 62 minutes Bibby cleared off the line and two minutes later Ashton hit the post as Ben hit the ball sweetly. Billinge came storming back with a Bradshaw rocket on 66 minutes then Barron on 67 minutes went on a mazy run and his superbly timed pass with Leyland onside when the ball was released, found Leyland outpacing the Ashton Centre Back to finish to the left of the keeper in the bottom corner amid wild celebrations. There then followed some 7 minutes of play as the referees watch seemed to stop and in truth, whilst not playing well and shorn of a quarter of the team the boys who came in were good enough against an excellent Ashton team who should be much further up the table.

MOM : Bibby, Barron and Crawford

Goals : Leyland (1) 67, Bibby (1) 20, Bradshaw (1) 29