At the end of a storm...

Well as the famous song says At the end of a storm, There's a golden sky. This week at Ashton Town there couldn't be a song lyric which sums up the goings on any better.

The day before Ashton Town were due to play Rochdale Town at home (Friday 20the Aug) Reserve Team Manager Ian Granite and his Assistant, John Wilkie, resigned from their positions at the club. With that, some players also asked to be released from the club. Ashton Town Reserves were due to play Glossop North End Reserves in a League match the day after but were struggling for a team. After a lot of ringing round by Reserve Team Coach Danny Gilbody we thought we had a team to take to Glossop. First Team Assistant Manager Stefan Ochwat then asked me would a go with Dan and give him a hand. So on the morning of the game we went to EGS to pick up the team sheets and 3 signing on forms for 3 youth lads who were helping us out. We then went to the Polo where the rest of the players were meeting. When we arrived at the Polo a few of the players decided they didn't want to play and so with only 9 men we couldn't field a team at Glossop.

I then returned to EGS to rejoin the First Team. With all the things that went on in the morning it would of been forgiven that some people's heads may not of been completely focussed. However, they were. Rochdale Town were a totally different side to the team that played at EGS at the back end of last season and Ashton had to work hard to get the 3 points.

The break through came 7 minutes after the break when Kev Hill looped a header over Rochdale keeper Mark Canning. After many chances the game was finally wrapped up 2 minutes from time when Stephen Edwards scored a close range header to put the game beyond doubt.

Two days later Ashton took part in the Wigan & District Cup when they faced Fir Tree Rangers who play in the Premier Division of the Wigan and District League. The match was won emphatically as Ashton easily dispatched of the Westleigh outfit by 8 goals to 2. So it's true, At the end of a storm, there's a golden sky.



This week at EGS the visitors will be Runcorn Town. As far as my knowledge goes this may be the first time the two sides have met. Runcorn Town are somewhat of an unknown quantity in the Vodkat League, however I do know a tiny little bit about them. I know they have a very good reputation in the local area and I also know that they had a very good reputation in the West Cheshire League which they were competing in up until this season when they joined the Vodkat League. Runcorn Town were promoted to the Premier Division of the West Cheshire League as Champions of the First Division in 2007. The following season Runcorn Town finished 3rd in the Premier Division on 66 points, 7 points behind Champions West Kirby. The 2008/09 season seen Runcorn Town drop a place to 4th this time finishing 10 points behind Champions West Kirby. Last Season Runcorn Town had arguably their best season in recent history. Runcorn Town ended up finishing 3rd 4 points behind Champions Cammel Laird Reserves and were duly promoted to the Vodkat League.

This Season Runcorn have played 3 games, winning all of them. They have dispatched of Abbey Hey by 5 goals to 1, AFC Darwen by 4 goals to 0 and Oldham Boro by 3 goals to 1. They have had 3 points deducted, however, for fielding an unregistered player against Abbey Hey on the opening day of the season. Runcorn will be very tough opposition based on their excellent record over the last 5 years and we know that every one is going to have to be at their best if the sky above EGS is going to remain Golden.

Onwards and Upwards

Out but not down the review of the fa cup and a preview to Cheadle Town

The saying goes "down but not out" but in Ashton's case it's the opposite way round. It's a case of out of the FA Cup at the 1st hurdle. That hurdle though couldn't knock us down but could only give us a little set back. Looking from the outside and looking at the result on the vodkatleague website on Saturday night you would think a nice routine win for Colne but the truth is that it was far from it.
The first half seen Ashton shoot down the hill. Ashton defended resolutely and lads put their bodies on the line for the club. Ashton did put the ball in the back of the net in the first 45 minutes from the left foot of Kev Hill however the linesman had raised his flag for offside. The only other chance in the first half worth noting for Ashton came when Stephen Edwards broke free of the last man only to mis-cue and lift his effort tamely wide.
The second half seen Ashton shoot up the hill and 5 minutes in Colne took a quick throw in on the half way line. The Colne number 11 turned and ran at the Ashton defense. He began to stumble about 10 yards from the box but managed to stay on his feet until he reached the penalty area. When he enterred the penalty area he lost his footing and the referee pointed to the spot. The rusulting kick was tucked away by Garvin after he hit it low to Hewitt's right. Hewitt did get his hand to it but couldn't get enough on it to keep it out. 2 minutes later the same player again fell in the box only this time he was told to get to his feet.
Colne were then reduced to 10 men as Ashton broke away and Edwards was through on goal when he was brought down by Colne's number 6. On 69 minutes the ten men got their second goal of the game when Andy Hewitt claimed a ball out the air. He was brought down to the ground by a Colne player and dropped the ball. The referee didn't consider it to be a foul and play continued. The ball was turned in by Riley. Ashton failed to capitalise on the one man advantage and couldn't find the breakthrough that was needed.
Good Luck to Colne in the competition but for Ashton we now turn our attentions back to the bread and butter of the league.

Next up for Ashton in the league is a home tie against Cheadle Town on Tuesday 17th August. Last seasons corresponding fixture seen both sides reduced to 10 men, both sides had a goal disallowed, both sides had chances cleared off the line and both sides managed to score a goal each. The match finsihed 1-1 and was packed with incedents even including a pitch invasion by a dog! In the reverse fixture Cheadle came out on top winning the match by 3 goals to 2 although the match will be remembered for Craig Fitzjohn's screamer form 30 yards.
This season Cheadle have started well beating Daisy Hill on the opening day of the season by 3 goals to 0 following that up with a creditable 1-1 draw against Chadderton at Andrew Street. Cheadle have also progressed in the FA Cup after seeing off Vodkat Premier Division side Squires Gate winning 3-0.

If Ashton can defend like they did for the majority of the FA cup tie at Colne on Saturday that will be a great basis to build on. Let's hope we can make it two home wins out of two. Cheadle will certainly come to EGS in a confident mood and who can blame them? But it's Ashton's home turf and we need to keep EGS the difficult place to come that we made it last year.

Onwards and Upwards

759 clubs creating a million dreams and memories

For many people the FA Cup brings back dreams and memories. Dreams of making it to Wembley. For me the FA cup brings back memories such as Ian Rush scoring a brace in the all Merseyside Cup Final, John Aldridge missing a penalty against underdogs Wimbledon, Eric Cantona breaking my heart in my first and only visit to Wembley in 96, Michael Owen stealing the Cup from Arsenal at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium and of course in the same stadium Steven Gerrard's last minute equaliser against West Ham. they are all memories of Finals of course, but that is where our memories and dreams are linked. Because with every memory we have, we have a dream that can equal it. Maybe for us at Ashton Town our dream isn't to get to Wembley, maybe it is. But I think many people's dreams at Ashton would be to maybe one-day reach the 1st Round proper. For the 402 teams who will compete in the Extra-Preliminary round of the FA cup this year many of them will just dream of getting through one round. The £750 prize for winning in the Extra-Preliminary Round can keep teams at our level running for 6 months. I think for clubs like us at Ashton winning one round is more of a dream than ever getting to any final and you never know it may just create more memories than any final. That is why this competition is so special to many people, me included. That is why 759 teams have entered this competition and that is why the FA Cup is the biggest and most participated in sporting competition in the world.

For Ashton Town in this years FA Cup we have been handed a very tough draw. Ashton have been drawn away to Colne FC of the Vodkat League Premier Division. Many people will remember Colne Dynamoes who hailed from the same ground and were full time attracting players such as Alan Kennedy. Unfortunately Colne Dynamoes went out of business in 1990. In 1996 the current Colne FC were formed and elected to the North West Counties Football League.

Colne began this season with a 2-2 draw away at Runcorn Linnets before following that up with a 4-0 thumping of Rossendale at home. Just by them 2 results that tells you that Colne are a good side. It also tells you that to go to the Holt House Stadium and come away with our name in the hat for the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup is going to be difficult. But this is the FA Cup. This is the competition that is famous for giant killings, this is the competition that, as I mentioned earlier, generates so many dreams and so many memories. At the moment the thought of going into the hat, or should I say velvet bag, is merely one of the many FA Cup Dreams, I just hope by 5pm on Saturday that dream has changed into one of those famous FA Cup memories.

Onwards and Upwards

Ashton Town were undressed, infact they were stripped naked

Ashton Town got their season off to a winning start with a hard thought 1-0 victory over Oldham Boro. A penalty 6 minutes from time scored by Stephen Edwards was the only thing that seperated the two teams on the opening day of the season.

Town were less than impressive but battled through the first half and managed to get to half time at 0-0. In the second half Ashton were better. The break through came when Edwards went clear and broke into the penalty area. As he went to pull the trigger he was brought down and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Edwards stepped up himself to convert the penalty. He put it to the keepers right. The keeper guessed the right way got his hand to it but couldn't keep it out. In the following 6 minutes Oldham went through one on one with the Goalkeeper twice but missed the golden oppurtunities to draw level. It was just a releif to get off with a win.

Ashton travelled to Alder Street to play Atherton Collieries two days after the 1-0 victory over Oldham Boro at EGS. Ashton were looking to make it two wins out of two whereas Cols were looking for their first win of the season after earning a point in a 0-0 draw away to Leek CSOB. Ashton were slow to start, Cols were electric and found themselves 1-0 up within 4 minutes. 3 shots were saved by Hewitt in the Ashton goal but the defenders could not clear their lines on each occaision and as the third shot was palmed away by Hewitt Atherton's Bridge fired a shot home. Cols passing was slick and their movement was excellent. the two forwards never stopped moving and were swapping and changing sides all the time. Ashton could not cope with the build up play of Cols and the midfielders played some effective through balls for the 2 forwards to chase. Two goals in 5 minutes effectively ended the tie. First Williams made it 2-0 on 24 minutes before Hynes made it 3 from a deflected shot.

Two minutes later Edwards scored Ashton's only goal of the night. A corner fromt he left hand side was swung in. Atherton failed to clear and it fell to Edwards who bundled it over the line. It remained 3-1 at half time but it could have been many more. Atherton could of scored 6. Ashton should of had at least 3. Dodd, Edwards and Dee all missing clear chances.

Ashton came out better in the second half and for 10 minutes had the better of the play only to concede a killer blow of a goal. Doyle and Fitzjohn both tackled Paul Atherton but couldn't get the ball away from him and as Hewitt came rushing off his line Atherton poked it home for Cols to make it 4-1. 12 minutes later Atherton made it 5-1 to Cols and completed the scoring.

It was a combination of Atherton Cols performing well and Ashton Town performing poor.

The travelling Ashton support were devastated as Ashton were picked apart. It was demoralising, disapointing and at times embarrasing. It was also a feeling that I never want to feel again. Hopefully the lads won't want to feel it again either and will learn from it. As Coleman would have said we were undressed, infact we were stripped naked.

Ashton now have to put this one to bed and work hard to turn it around when we travel to Colne for the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Challenge Cup.

Onwards and Upwards

It's back!!!

It's come around again. It's that time of year where all the excitment and the optimism works on overdrive. When all the preparation and the hard work finally sees its reason. First up for Ashton Town this season is a team we faced at the back end of last season.
Oldham Boro, for all their recent troubles, are pleased to still have a football club. Not only have they had a lot of trouble recently but a lot has changed at the Whitebank Stadium with Oldham Roughyeds ending their 12 year nomadic existance by making the Whitebank their home too. From what I have seen it's been tarted up a bit and extra seats have been added. I just hope Oldham Boro get to see the benefit of it. Knowing Roughyeds Chairman Chris Hamilton like I do I very much doubt they will.

In the 30th of 32 fixtures last season we played host to Oldham Boro at EGS. It was 0-0 at half time before a second half blitz seen Ashton ram home 4 goals to win the match by 4 goals to 1. After the disapointment of the Goldline Trophy in pre season a similar result and off to a good start this coming Saturday would be more than welcome. It's worth pointing out that Oldham are no pushovers and it will be a tough game but to quote Oldham Manager Tony Mills "I've put out a strong team and we've been leathered, and a weak team and we've been leathered". Let's just hope Tony is right again this time around.

Oldham will want to get off to a good start as much as we do ourselves so it is up to us to be on or game and get off to a winning start.

Ashton Town V Oldham Boro at Edge Green Street Saturday 7th August 3pm

Onwards and Upwards