League

Ashton-under-Lyne
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Eddie Renwick received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 5th minute. Matty Barraclough tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 7 minutes, Reggie Mannell managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ashton-under-Lyne's supporters crossed their fingers, but Reggie Mannell was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 10th minute Reggie Mannell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zaq Worth saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Eddie Renwick fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Matty Barraclough having to interfere. Grant Phimister hit a great freekick 12 minutes into the match. In the 14th minute of the match Marek Dobson sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Matty Barraclough skillfully saved the ball. Don Rowe sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With 22 minutes on the clock, Tod Medley commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. In the 21st minute, one of Ashton-under-Lyne:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Ashton-under-Lyne. Pierre Shephard shot the penalty kick right outside the post. After some fancy dribbling in the 26th minute, Miles Wilkes managed to get in a good position for a shot. Southport AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Miles Wilkes was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Matty Barraclough breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Don Rowe sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Don Rowe got free with Zaq Worth in the 43rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Eddie Renwick received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 47th minute. Matty Barraclough tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

In the 51st minute Sol Coulshaw shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Matty Barraclough saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 52 played minutes Ashton-under-Lyne got a freekick which was hit by Mattias Bilton. After a defensive mix-up in Southport AFC's zone, Don Rowe stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Zaq Worth came out of the goal and Don Rowe tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 57th minute the ball was on its way in behind Southport AFC's goalkeeper Zaq Worth, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 61 minutes in the game, Miles Wilkes fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Matty Barraclough having to interfere. Mattias Bilton struck a weak shot in the 68th minute. Zaq Worth didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ashton-under-Lyne. Miles Wilkes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Matty Barraclough having to interfere. Don Rowe sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 80 minutes of play, Ashton-under-Lyne's Mattias Bilton made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Zaq Worth was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Mattias Bilton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Zaq Worth didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Don Rowe went, in the 85th minute, to the upper right corner, 3-0 was the resulting score. If Tim Hutchings had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 94 played minutes Ashton-under-Lyne got a freekick which was hit by Mattias Bilton. 95 minutes into the match, Southport AFC's Pierre Shephard broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. When the referee ended the match the Ashton-under-Lyne players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.