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