latest-news2

WAVERLEY FC 2 vs 4 AORFC

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 21:51:32 +0100

Ashton didn't look to have lost their end of season form as they got their pre season campaign off to a satisfactory start with a 4 vs 2 victory over last seasons division winners Waverley FC.

First half goals from Phil Armistead and a well struck free kick from Ben Grimshaw gave Ashton a well deserved 2-1 lead at half time.

A mass change at half time gave the second half the inevitable pre season feel but that didn't mean Ashton were unable to continue to create numerous goal scoring chances.
A stunning strike from Tom Bonnick from 20 yards and another for Ben Grimshaw all but wrapped up the victory for the Ribblers.

Waverley did get another goal back but they were unable get back into the game further as the were coming up against a defence which over the past few months has gone from strength to strength.

Ashton's next pre season fixture is on Sunday vs fellow division 3 team Albrighton FC.

Thursday's Game

Tue, 30 Jul 2013 17:57:51 +0100

The game is to be held at the Clifton Village Hall on Vicarage Road.

http://goo.gl/maps/Tg2v4

Please arrive as close to 6pm as you can.

NO PARKING is allowed in the village hall car park, please park on Vicarage Road.

If you own Navy shorts and White socks please bring them as we have more players that kit available.

SUNDAY SESSION ON THE DUNES

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 20:54:32 +0100

Sunday's training session will commence on the sand dunes in sunny Lytham.

The easiest place to park will be on main road, Clifton Drive just after the large building called Dune Point. Look out for Stuart's car and pull up somewhere near there. Make your way up and over the dunes and meet on the beach for 10.30am.

For directions click here

If anybody needs a lift, please let Stuart know.

PRE SEASON SCHEDULE

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 20:39:31 +0100

Pre season training is now upon us. The following sessions will take place ahead of the start of the season on 18th August.

Remember fitness is a key element to any successful team.

Sunday 14th July, 10.30am - 12noon, Ashton Park

Thursday 18th July, 7pm - 8pm, Ashton Park

Sunday 21st July, 10.30am - 12noon, Lytham Sand Dunes

Thursday 25th July, 7pm - 8pm, Ashton Park

Sunday 28th July, 10.30 - 12noon, Ashton Park

Thursday 1st August 7pm - 8pm, Ashton Park

Sunday 4th August, Friendly vs Albrighton, 11am KO, Ashton High School

Thursday 8th August, 7pm - 8pm, Ashton Park

Sunday 11th August, Friendly vs Glossop, 11am KO, Ashton High School

Thursday 15th August, 7pm - 8pm, Ashton Park

AORFC 5 vs 3 Frenchwood

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:48:00 +0100

Ashton complete the season with a 5 vs 3 victory over Frenchwood.

Match report to follow....

BURSCOUGH 3 vs 3 AORFC

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:54:48 +0100

Ashton fought back for a well earned draw away at Burscough on Sunday.
The result extends Ashton's good recent form and they have now taken 13 points from a possible 15.

Ashton started brightly and created the better of the opening chances. Mike Tattersall's early effort was blocked on the line and Matt Wiggins had a one on one which he put just wide of the right hand post.
Burscough used the advantage of the spacious pitch and passed the ball well in midfield but they could not find a way past the well organised back four.

The half ended 0-0 and Ashton perhaps came in at the break a little down beat that they hadn't converted their early chances.
The disappointment carried over into the start of the second half and the lads started on the back foot. As a result Burscough were able to get in behind the Ashton defence, something that very few teams have done this season. The home side converted two early chances to take a 2-0 lead.

Despite falling behind Ashton continued to put pressure on the home side and Ben Grimshaw pulled a goal back with a great strike from outside the area. Ben later had a 2 more chances to find the back of the net but fired straight at the keeper on both occasions.
The reds were soon level when there were awarded a penalty kick. The lads had continued to create pressure and when a shot was fired in on goal it was handled by a defender on the line. He somehow evaded a red card but a spot kick was duly awarded which Tom Darkins converted to maintain his 100% record for Ashton from 12 yards out.

Jonny Butts came off the bench and fired the reds in to a 2-3 lead when he converted a low cross from Ben straight past the keeper.

The well deserved lead didn't last too long as a ball over the top was latched onto by the Burscough striker who had just managed to stay onside before lifting the ball over the onrushing Chris King.

The home side almost clinched all 3 points at the death but striker missed the target when through one on one with Kingy.

A thoroughly deserved point and on the account of the chances created the Reds could have won the game. Ashton are the only team to not have lost to Burscough this season.

Man of the Match goes to Matt Wiggins who caused problems for the opposition all game and his produced tireless running on a big pitch.

Final game of the season is this Sunday when the Reds can look to finish on high with a victory against Frenchwood.

ASHTON BLOW DEEPDALE AWAY

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:42:02 +0100

Ashton recorded their biggest ever victory in blustery conditions against Deepdale Dynamos on Moor Park.
The reds continued their good run of form by thumping 8 without reply past sorry Deepdale.

An outstanding strike from Ben Grimshaw in the opening 5 minutes put Ashton in control early on. With the strong wind causing havoc for the home side, they struggled to get the ball out of their own half. Ashton went to work to capitalise on the advantage and were soon 3 up. A deep cross from Ben Grimshaw was headed back across goal by Stuart Hames for Phil Armistead to notch his first of the game. Phil quickly added to this when a clever throw put him through 1 on 1 and he bravely flicked the ball into the net before colliding with the on rushing keeper.

Matt Wiggins curled in directly from a corner and Dan Porter finished the half off with a beautifully taken goal, controlling with his right and volleying with his left from just outside the area.

With the score line 0-5 at half time, the game was pretty much dead and buried, although the second half was against the problematic wind, so the lads had to stay focused.

Ashton started the second half brightly and counteracted the wind by keeping the ball on the floor where possible. Chris King ensured he distributed the ball low out wide to ensure Ashton maintained possession in their own half.

Ashton created numerous chances and really could have hit double figures. Phil baged his hat-trick after following up well to tap in after a save from the keeper saw the ball fall at his feet.

Jonny Butts and Tom Bonnick came on from the bench and combined well ensuring the attacking threat was constant. Ben Grimshaw soon netted his second from close range after the ball bounced around in the area following a number of efforts at goal.
Jonny Butts was then brought down in the area as he shaped to cross the ball allowing Ben to net his hat-trick from the spot and confirm Ashton's greatest ever victory.

A fine performance all over the field considering the conditions.

Man of the match goes to Ben Grimshaw who not only bagged his second hat-trick of the season but was a constant threat going forward.

Ashton break for Easter now having won all of their games in March and have just 2 fixtures remaining.

TOM TOM GUIDE ASHTON TO VICTORY

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:46:25 +0100

A goal from Tom Darkins and 2 from Tom Bonnick were enough to give Ashton a well earned 3 v 2 victory and end Burscough's unbeaten league run.

Yet again Ashton were forced into some positional changes as only 11 players were available to face the top of the league opposition. The game saw the first starts for Phil Armistead and Anthony Gambino upfront.

Ashton were ahead early on when Tom Darkins cleverly headed on Matt Wiggins effort at goal to leave the keeper with no chance.

It didn't take long for the visitors to draw level. Stuart Hames was unable to clear a 50-50 ball from inside the 6 yard box which bounced kindly for the striker to finish easily past Chris King in goal.
Burscough were gifted their second. A poor ball out of defense straight to the feet of the opposition striker put them through 2 on 1 and their clinical finishing showed why they were unbeaten in the league coming into this fixture.

Ashton came in at half time and were not down beat. The lads knew that if they carried on applying the pressure and winning their individual battles then the chances would come.

The red's belief paid off and they were soon level. A Ben Grimshaw free kick was parried away by the keeper into the path of Tom Bonnick who tapped it into the net from 2 yards out.
At that point Ashton looked like the more confident side and Burscough's only notable effort on goal drew a fine save from Chris King.

The chances came in their numbers and Ben Grimshaw was twice denied by good saves from the keeper after breaking free down the left hand side.

With 20 minutes remaining Tom Bonnick finished well from close range to regain Asthon's lead. Another free kick was well delivered into the box and Tom struck well under pressure after controlling the ball on his chest.

Ashton remained in control and were never really put under any pressure in the closing stages of the game. If anything they could have confirmed the win if they had been a little more clinical in front of goal.
The constant threat from Ben Grimshaw and Tom Bonnick proved that Ashton's game plan of using the width will create the best chances to score goals.

A well earned victory by 11 Ashton-on-Ribble lads up for the battle lead by Man of the Match Tom Darkins.

An opportunity to continue the good run of form against Frenchwood this Sunday. I hope to see a good turn out at training this Wednesday as we look to end the season on a high.

The final 3 fixtures for the season are now online.

AORFC 4 vs 2 PRESTON GUILD

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:29:05 +0100

Ashton saw off Preston Guild with another 4 goals as they saw off the opposition 4 vs 2 on Moor Park.

Ashton were forced into a number of changes as they lined up for this game with just 11 men. A big thanks goes to Greg Lawson for brushing off his hangover and turning out to run the line for us. Much appreciated.

Tom Wignall made his debut starting up front alongside Matt Wiggins and Stuart Hames filled in on the left hand side of midfield with Steve Thomas coming in to cover centre midfield.

Despite the new faces in unfamiliar positions Ashton started brightly and it took only 10 minutes for Stuart Hames to open the scoring. The ball was cleared out of the area by a Guild defender only for Stuart to take it on the half volley from 20 yards out and give Ashton the advantage.

Ashton were soon 2 nil up when captain Mike Tattersall used his strength to hold off the challenge and head home from a well delivered free kick.

Despite the two goal cushion Ashton were put under pressure through the middle of the pitch and some neat play from Guild allowed their wide player to deliver a deep cross-shot which dropped in at the back post to make it 2-1.

Ashton re organised to try and sure up the middle and managed to see the half still with the lead.

The reds started the second half very much how they finished the 1st - on the back foot.
Unable to get a hold on the game Ashton were punished when the referee awarded a penalty to Guild when Tom Bonnick was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. The much protested spot kick was despatched from the sand and the scores were level.

It took the equaliser for Ashton to regain their composure and hold on the game.
A freekick for ashton was poorly cleared and allowed Tom Bonnick to produce a fine bit of skill on the left to work himself enough space to put in a cross for Dan Porter to head beautifully into the corner to regain the lead.

With momentum now with the home side and opposition clearly tiering aother free kick was awarded to Ashton on the edge of the area. This time Tom Darkins stepped up and produced a trademark low curling effort around the wall and in at the near post leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.

With the 4th goal the 3 points were confirmed and Ashton saw out the game comfortably. A well earned victory to help boost the confidence before the lads travel away to title contenders Burscough on Sunday.

Man of the Match goes to Josh Porter who is improving game after game and this week put in a faultless display at right back.

PRESTON GUILD 1 vs 4 AORFC

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:27:44 +0100

Ashton recorded their first win of 2013 and in the process ended Preston Guild's unbeaten run for the 2013.

A strong performance was rewarded with a fully deserved victory. Improved forward play saw the reds attack with confidence and allowed Ben Grimshaw's early effort deflected into the net by the Preston Guild defender.

Ben soon made it 2 when Tom Darkins threaded a perfectly weighted ball through for him to beat the keeper at the near post with the outside of his left boot.

Ashton saw the half out comfortably and were never really under any pressure that the impressive back four couldn't deal with.

The second half started a little nervy but Matt Wiggins managed to avoided the a viscous attempt to hack him down as he broke through in the area and he cooly slotted home past the keeper to settle the nerves.

Phil Armistead confirmed the 3 points for Ashton with a well struck left foot effort which was his first for the club on his second appearance.

A mix up between Jonny Sumner and Chris King resulted in a gifted conciliation own goal for Preston Guild and slightly soured an otherwise faultless display from the pair.

Man of the match goes to Adam Ward who worked well down the right flank and filled in well at right back when the team lost Josh to injury.

Matt Wiggins and Graham Harrison also performed well and deserve a mention. Matty provided the target up front and Graham commanded the back line superbly.