Fireworks Night

FC get the better of Seven Goal Thriller. Report by David Robinson

Visitors FC United got the better of their hosts by the odd goal in seven in Ashton’s last home friendly. From the off Richie Baker should have done better than side foot Ben McKenna’s left wing cross straight at Matthew Green in the home goal and shortly afterwards Lewis Lacy set up Connor McCarthy needing a point blank save to deny him.

McCarthy then dragged his effort wide after Lacy had won the ball but the opening goal arrived ten minutes before the break as Nathan Lowe lashed home from the edge of the area after McCarthy’s shot had been blocked. Within 3 minutes the Robins were level as Liam Tomsett won a penalty from Danny Brady with Yaw Gyimah converting well and one minute later the winger picked up Nicky Platt’s pass and turned his effort past the keeper for his second.

On the resumption Baker robbed Ashton’s stand in keeper with Lacy’s shot spinning narrowly wide but after Lacy had then won a corner he headed home McKenna’s delivery unchallenged. The end to end action continued as Platt’s pass saw Tomsett provide a fine left foot finish just before the hour mark but a mistake in the home defence then allowed Baker to set up McCarthy for the equaliser into the unguarded goal. The final word fell to the visitors as Jason Gilchrist beat the offside trap and finished from a tight angle.

Team: Green, Coo, Stachini, Woodford, Olapayde, Platt, Smith, Tomsett, Johnson, Gyimah, Pritchard. Subs: Norton, Smalley, Da Silva, Eckersley, Chalmers, Roberts, Povey.