I was still queueing for my pie,peas and gravy when it looked like Ashton had got the ball in the net - couldn't see for all the peas ! If it did go in - it wasn't allowed though. In fact I was still eating my hefty portion when Ashton took the lead after about seven minutes when Matlock's Lukic diverted a cross into his own net for an unfortunate "oggy". Ashton were looking by far the better side, giving Matlock no space/time on the ball and compressing the play rather well. Phil Cooney was - as always - causing trouble down the right for Ashton, and I was really disappointed with visitors - they just didn't look "up for it" at all (traffic jam through Buxton maybe ?!?) - yes they were pushing forward, but it all looked a little half-hearted. My little book then tells me that on 37 minutes Ashton's Garry Kharas was very very very lucky to remain on the pitch after a particularly nasty "off the ball kick" - I firmly believe he would have walked had the ref been able to find his red card - he definitely went through three pockets before finding and brandishing a mere yellow.
Early Matlock pressure
So 1-0 at half-time - the ubiquitous pint - and then back out. Something had obviously been said in the Matlock dressing room - and it had the desired effect. It was a different side - playing downhill and with the wind behind them, and after 58 minutes a cross from Bowler was tucked in by Barraclough to level the scores. Five minutes later the ball was once again in the Ashton net, but this time the linesman was flagging for offside.
Barraclough equalises for Matlock.
2-1 to Matlock ?? No - check out the linesman's flag...
With 20 minutes to go, Ashton keeper Lee Bracey vacated his penalty area to clear another Matlock attack only to fall on the ball and handle it - 'twas the "lettter of the law" time and the ref had made sure he had his red card with him for the second half - and Ashton Player-Manager Scott Green took over between the sticks.
Lee gets "first shout" at the hot water.....
...leaving "The Boss" to cover for him ...
Rather surprisingly Matlock did not put too much pressure on the stand-in keeper - yes there were chances, but they should have been fizzing it in from all directions. The Ashton defence held firm however and the game finished 1-1. Overall disappointed with Matlock - a shadow of the team that tore Mossley apart - twice - but credit to Ashton United - the better team in the first half and they did well to keep it tight after Bracey's dismissal.
Unfortunately (for some !) a point for Ashton moves them further away from the bottom (i.e. further away from Mossley !). I was also getting the info (via txt) on the Ilkeston v Kendal game (thanks Nosmo), and a point for Kendal helps them to keep out of the mire. A point for Leek at Marine saw them leapfrog Mossley (now second bottom) and Grantham (bottom) also clawed a point out of their game at North Ferriby to creep even closer to the Lilywhites. All in all a bad day for Mossley - and they didn't even play !
Into the club afterwards - with time to natter to Rico and a few of the Matlock fans - there was also time to win £20 on the football card - I'm now a Doncaster fan !!
Thanks to Bob for the lift back to Mossley - watched most of the first half of the City game before repairing to "chez Smiffy" and falling asleep during the "Italian Job" DVD - hence the late late show tonight !
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