Report

Hanham Minor League

Sunday April 15^th Away to Ashton Boys 11:15 KO

Match 2

A drawn first match gave both teams the incentive to score and the immediate Orange rush into the Ashton half was quickly stopped and reversed with Ashton taking an shot at the Orange goal. A long ball by Jensen put The Oranges back into the Ashton half and a quick shot at their goal by Louis. The response was push back into the Orange half and goal in the second minute, the reward for some good passing and positioning by Ashton. Jenson came out to collect, but one of their players slipped behind him and put a well passed ball into the net. One goal up, a cautious Ashton side played a fairly defensive game for the next few minutes putting the ball off pitch as frequently as The Oranges moved into their half. An Orange corner ball, earned by some good football from Oli and the front line, saved by their excellent keeper was sent back down the field to return for another Orange corner. More attacking play by the Oranges failed to really dent the Ashton defence, and the occasional push forward by Ashton kept Jack C and Matthew busy. A chance to equalise came after Michael put the ball forward to Matthew and a shot at their goal was caught and then dropped by their keeper, no Orange player was quite close enough to capitalise. We did get well into their half from a long Jenson kick and three shots by Louis, were all deflected by their keeper and defenders. An Orange corner in the last minute or so of the half, once again collected by their keeper was retuned to the Orange half. Ashton got in a last shot at the Orange goal, blocked by the Orange defence, shot again and finally put forward by Jenson as the whistle went.

Looking to consolidate their lead, Ashton were immediately into the Orange half the moment the whistle went. Michael managed to put the ball forward but a relentless Ashton came back and scored their second goal within half a minute. Louis took the ball to the Ashton goal but they were soon back into Orange territory, Michael again the man of the moment, blocking the ball. Mason took the ball forward but again Ashton were in the Orange half looking for another goal.  An Ashton corner earned a moment or two later was stopped and forwarded by Oli to Mason, who running hard, got to within shooting distance and missed their goal by just inches. Repeated a few minutes later after a long ball from Jenson. A free kick to The Oranges from a handball foul failed to give them the chance they needed to start the equalising process, in fact Ashton managed to get a scoreless corner from the action. The Oranges did get a corner after a hard struggle to get to the Ashton goal line, saved again by their keeper punching the ball out. Some excellent passing by Ashton got them around the Orange midfield and on a run toward the Orange goal, stopped by Oli a chance for an Orange goal arose as Mason put the ball to Oli and a fairly empty Ashton goalmouth, unfortunately without backup, the chance was lost and the ball went back down the pitch. An Orange corner in the last minutes of the game looked promising and their keeper, anxious not to allow the ball past the line gave us a second corner again with out score. The Ashton keeper putting the ball off pitch gave The Oranges a last chance to score, Sam F gaining control of the thrown in ball put it past their keeper in the eighteenth minute. Ashton perhaps stung by the last minute goal were playing very defensively for the last couple of minutes, gaining two free kicks but failing to capitalise. One last Aston run was stopped by Jenson and the ball was in their half as the final whistle went.

A great match with some good football, Ashton playing a very disciplined game, which gave then a slight edge. Missed opportunities on both sides, which could have sent the match either way.
Great football.

Photos

• 
•