First Silverware

Report by David Robinson. Pictures Eddie Leach

A late winner from Nic Evangelinos saw Ashton home to win the 12th staging of the Tony Downes Memorial Trophy at the Butchers Arms. On a bumpy pitch the hosts featured several ex-Ashton players in their line up and immediately a decent cross from Ashton full back Matthais Barare saw the ball beat both forwards and keeper.
Scott Sephton’s pass then saw Matty Chadwick turn and send a swinging effort wide before Liam Tomsett made space from Sam Sheridan’s pass but dragged his shot off target. Dom McHale then made a run across the area for the bloods but saw his effort just deflect for a corner and Chadwick’s cross to the far post was volleyed over by Matt Regan. The breakthrough arrived just after the half hour as Bohan Dixon beat the home offside trap before finishing from a tight angle.

Ashton could have moved further ahead at the start of the second half as Regan’s cross was just touched away at the far post by Kelvin Lugsden but in fact it was the hosts who scored next as McHale cut inside and saw his attempt take a slight deflection to loop it over Joe Bursick. Tomsett then lobbed a great chance over the bar after Alex Frost had mis controlled Clarke’s pass and Nic Evangelinos was just forced wide enough by Branagan before volleying a corner wildly off target.
Regan’s cross was then palmed away by Branagan with Oliver Crowley heading the loose ball wide but it was Evangelinos who had the last word turning home the winner with 3 minutes left.

Team: Bursick, Barare, Regan, Lees, Chalmers, Hill, Sephton, Sheridan, Chadwick, Dixon, Tomsett. Subs: Crowley, McCarthy, Jacobs, Evangelinos, trialist.