Pre-Match Build Up
Gate come into this forgetting what it’s like to play a home game. Andy Clarkson’s men are on the back of five away games on the bounce. It’s been a turn in fortune for Andy’s men though since our last home game picking up three wins and a draw on the road whilst narrowly losing out 1-0 away at City of Liverpool.

The last three games have seen a remarkable improvement from Gate with three wins, two coming against promotion hopefuls in Runcorn Town and Bootle. The third came against Litherland Remyca in a hard-fought battle last weekend moving Gate back up the league.
Since our last home game, Andy has announced Joe Booth as his new Assistant Manager in a management reshuffle whilst James Boyd has returned to the club from Clitheroe and Sam Staunton-Turner has signed from Kendal Town.

The Away Team
Ashton come into this game sat 13th in the league on 24 points. Jay Foulds and Dougie Pitts’ side have picked up 7 wins from 19 games with 9 losses and 3 draws.

Ashton are a team in form with five wins from the last six games, scoring 22 goals and conceding just five. These games have included two big wins against West Didsbury 5-0 twice, beating Abbey Hey 6-0 and Whitchurch Alport 2-1.

The last game saw them beat Evo Stik Racliffe FC 4-2 in the Lancashire Trophy. A Matthew Reid double in either half with the other goals coming from Marcus Cusani and Christopher Webster.

Last Time We Met
Gate and Ashton last met in in August at the start of the season in a tight game.
Dean Ing scored the only goal on the night in a tight, scrappy game at Brocstedes Park for Andy Clarkson’s side.

Gate thought they’d opened the scoring after 28 minutes but it was flagged offside. Ryan Riley’s shot was deflected falling to Ric Seear but he was offside.

Clarkson’s side did eventually open the scoring with what turned out to be the only goal of the game. Ashton failed to clear the ball on several occasions. It fell to Dean Ing who kept his composure and fired past the keeper.

Gate went close again in the second half when Ben Fletcher found Gary Pett from a goal kick, he flicked the ball onto Seear but he ran just too soon and was flagged offside.

Gate could have wrapped up the game with a couple of minutes left of the game. Joey Mullen sent in a teasing ball across the six yard box where Dean Ing was arriving late but he couldn’t meet the ball.

Similarly, Ashton sent in an equally good ball down the other end, but they couldn’t turn the ball in

You can read the full match report here - Ashton Athletic 0-1 Squires Gate

Head to Head
Gate and Ashton have met 21 times since 2009. It’s been tight over the years between the two sides, with Ashton just piping Gate with five wins to Gate four. A massive 12 games have ended in a draw. Ashton have scored 36 goals whilst Gate have scored 26.

Other Premier Division Games
Hanley Town v Whitchurch Alport
Padiham v Charnock Richard
Runcorn Town v Silsden

Admission:
Adults £6, Concessions £3, Under 12’s Free with a paying Adult

Address:
The Brian Addison Stadium
School Road
Marton
Blackpool
Lancashire
FY4 5DS

If you can't make the game on Saturday be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for match coverage as it happens. We'll also have a full match report and pictures on the website on Sunday as well as in Monday’s Blackpool Gazette.