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AFC Liverpool v Darwen Saturday 9 August 2008

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27/10/2007 ASHTON ATHLETIC 2 DARWEN 0

Darwen were looking to revenge the fortunate win of their opponents at the Anchor a month ago, but never looked likely to achieve this after having to play with ten men for most of the match. The Salmoners now lie in tenth place in the Vodkat League Division 2, whilst their opponents today are now third.

Things seemed to get off to a great start for the visitors, when after only two minutes Jon Stephenson had flicked the ball deftly into the net from a through pass, but joy soon turned to disappointment as a flag was raised for offside.

Darwen had a let-off four minutes later. Ashton captain Rothwell put a long throw into the box. Keeper Konstantins Upenieks rushed to the near post but got nowhere near the ball as it was back-headed to the edge of the area where White was waiting. His first time volley just cleared the bar. Two minutes later, Ashton striker McVeigh was put through and first avoided the tackle from Daniel Finch, then chipped over outrushing Upenieks. He was unlucky to see his effort go just over.

Minutes later, the home side created another excellent move. Burke hit a long raking forty yard pass, which found Almond on the right wing. McVeigh was first to the low cross, but put the ball wide with most of the goal at his mercy.

Darwen were reduced to ten men when Jon Stephenson, who had already been booked for kicking the ball away, was given a second yellow card for a tackle which the referee decided was a bookable offence.

In the 21st minute, a poor Darwen free kick was easily gathered by Ashton keeper Paxton, who immediately through the ball out to Gallanders on the wing. He combined with full back Potter to stretch the away defence. Potter swung a ball into the Darwen area, and McVeigh out jumped Dennis Hill, only to head the ball wide with the goal gaping.

The game went quiet, until with five minutes to go before the break, Daniel Finch headed away an Ashton shot from under the bar that had beaten Upenieks in goal.

Darwen came close to squaring the match three minutes later. A corner was headed clear, but fell to Dennis Hill outside the box. He hit a dipping volley over Paxton, but the ball bounced off the cross-bar and away to safety.

On the stroke of half time, Ashton Athletic went ahead. Almond was put through and outpaced Matt Anderton. As other defenders closed, he pushed the ball out to Potter on the left side of the pitch. Potter took a few steps nearer to the edge of the area, and put a curling effort past Darwen keeper Upenieks, although it appeared more like a cross than a strike on goal. The referee blew immediately for half time after the restart.

Half Time: Ashton Athletic 1 Darwen 0

The home side went two up ten minutes into the half, when Almond was on hand at the far post to squeeze in a corner, which had cleared all the Darwen defenders.

The home side came close to increasing their lead ten minutes later, as White and Gallanders combined to slice through the Darwen defence, with Gallanders’s chip over Konstantins Upenieks just clearing the bar. Two minutes later Ashton substitute Hewitt’s shot on the turn was bravely blocked by the Darwen keeper.

Just before the end, Gallanders had a golden opportunity to make it three for Ashton, when an Almond pass found him unmarked on the edge of the Darwen area. He dribbled the ball round the outrushing Upenieks, then decided to beat Daniel Finch to make more certain of the goal, but his delay enabled the Darwen keeper to recover and block the subsequent strike.

Full Time: Ashton Athletic 2 Darwen 0

ATTENDANCE: 60

GOALS:

Ashton Athletic: Potter (45), Almond (55)

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Ashton Athletic: Tom Potter
Darwen: Martin Parkes

TEAMS:

Ashton Athletic

1. Andy Paxton
2. Steve Wallace
3. Tom Potter
4. Mike Burke
5. Steve Rothwell (Capt.)
6. Chris Lawton
7. Chris Almond
8. Mark Court
9. Paul McVeigh
10. Adam White
11. Simon Gallanders
12. Steve Bennett (replaced Wallace, 72 minutes)
14. Daniel Hitchen (replaced Lawton, 65 minutes)
15. Richard Sharpe
16. Paul Townshend (replaced Court, 57 minutes)

Darwen

1. Konstantins Upenieks
2. Chris Pearson
3. Daniel Finch
4. Matt Anderton (Capt.)
5. Dennis Hill
6. Matt Haworth
7. Martin Parkes
8. Richard Fogarty
9. Paul Mashiter
10. Jon Stephenson
11. Paul Crompton
12. Courtney Crooks (replaced Hill, 65 minutes)
14. Ashley Reece (replaced Haworth, 55 minutes)
15. Joe Darwin
16. Doug Ward
17. Richmond Bokury (replaced Fogarty, 70 minutes)

Thoughts of Darwen manager Wayne Watkins after the match.

“The turning point in the game was when Jon Stephenson was sent off. Ten minutes gone, down to ten men. We were on top at that time, had the ball in the net, ruled out for off-side, and rightly so. Jon getting sent off just changed the game completely. I’m not really one to criticise referees. If the referee made a decision and feels that was right, we’ll stand by that.

It was then 80 minutes backs against the wall and chasing our tails. We just had to have one guy up front, push the ball wide and move up as a unit. Unfortunately in doing that, we left ourselves short at the back and conceded another goal. Ashton Athletic are a big side, very strong, and knocked the ball around well.”