Ashville take home the 3 points in the last home game of the season!

Photo from Bob Shaw Photography

It was a heartwarming day down at the Ray Parker Stadium as Ashville overcame Market Drayton Town FC 2-0, with a brace from Peter Morgan.

Following the passing of our Club President, John Dennett, earlier on in the week, a special matchday was organised in remembrance of John. With plenty in attendance, a minute of applause occurred alongside many friends and family paying their respects, creating an emotional moment.

Despite chances being few within the first half, a well-worked Ashville attack in additional time led to the opener! Jude Mante's sublime pass to an on-running Kieron Frost allowed space to pull the ball back across goal. Frost laid a pass into the middle of the box, whilst Peter Morgan beat his man to tap it home. A fantastic time to score, as Ashville went into the break 1-0 up.

The game was reasonably even for a large portion of the second half, with Ashville perhaps deserving to be ahead. In a pledge to kill the game off, which was already in touching distance, manager Sam Vicker decided to replace the assister of the first goal, Kieron Frost, as well as Jack Edwards, bringing on Lewis Moynes and Will Mountfield. Also later committing to a double change, bringing off Joel Kelly and Ben Greenop for Jono Cahill and Nivaldo.

There seemed to be some tension on the pitch during the latter stages of the match as Jude Mante was booked for a late challenge, denying Market Drayton Town an imminent counter-attack, before the opposition went down to 10 men following an off-the-ball incident involving Connor Courtnell, with one of the defenders being dismissed. Another defender was also shown yellow, meaning the backline needed to be careful for the remainder of the game!

Luckily for Ashville, one of the last attacks of the game resulted in elation as a counterattack against a sparse opposition resulted in the second and final goal of the game. A classy move meant the substitute Jono Cahill had the time and space to lay the ball across to Peter Morgan, who tapped it home, doubling his tally for the day.

Ashville’s last home game of the season ended in a fabulous victory, marking a monumental day that will go down in the club’s history. The push for a playoff place is still well and truly on, with 2 games of the season remaining; let’s see what unfolds.