Match report

Match report

On Saturday morning, Ashton Rangers hosted Woodside Warriors U12 Gold in ideal football conditions. Both teams have had a fairly tough 11 weeks leading into this one with only 3 and 2 wins each so far. But watching the kids before the match, you wouldn’t have known they’d had a tough season. Parents and friends were greeted by 26 smiling young faces as the kids chipped the ball around with their mates and enjoyed their pre-game routine. Unfortunately, only 10 of them were dressed in Woodside shirts as 3 late withdrawals saw the visitors unable to field a team of 11. But Ashton’s rock star coach once again showed his class and humility, offering to also play with 10, leaving them 6 on the bench to rotate throughout the game. 

Ashton got off to a flyer in this one, goaling in the early minutes – Scrappy ball deep in the Woodside half bounced awkwardly and was shinned into the middle of the pitch. It sat nicely for the Ashton striker who but boot to ball and sent a long powerful shot past a desperate diving keeper. The early goal was a bit of a shock to everyone. Perhaps they hadn’t adapted to the extra space of ten-a-side football. Whatever it was, Ashton were up and Woodside had to find a way back in. The rest of the first half was as even as the number 2. Both sides defended well, as has been their want all season, and prevented any clean shots on goal. The best chance of the half was a long strike from Woodside’s Right wing that cleared everyone, only to hit the bottom of the cross-bar and spin out off the line. And so we entered half-time with Ashton up by a single kick. 

The start of the second half saw Woodside take a small ascendency. Chance after chance was created as the Ashton keeper was put through his paces. A plethora of on-target shots were saved in spectacular fashion as the goal-keeper single handedly kept his side in the lead. The closest was a rolling ball in heavy traffic that stopped half-across the line, only to be saved by desperation and will. But as the game wore on the substitutionless Warriors began to flag. And when six sets of fresh legs were introduced into the Ashton line-up it was just a bridge too far for the visiting team. They continued to defend hard and create chances, but they just couldn’t get enough bodies forward to sink one into the net. Eventually, Ashton scored a second goal through a long shot that burst over the Woodside goalies mits. This was a well-earned win for Ashton who played the game with impeccable sportsmanship.