Robins Pay The Penalty!

Ashton fightback not enough. Report by Robbie Coppack. Pic Jez Sayle

Ashton crashed out of the FA Trophy despite Jack Dyche’s second half brace,cancelling out Jamie McDonalds first half double, to send the tie into the extra time. However neither side could be separated and it went into penalties. But misses from Mason Fawns and Nicky Platt and Warrington converting all their penalties meant that the Robins couldn’t complete the comeback and the Yellows travel to Tamworth in the next round.
Carnell was the busier goalkeeper in the early exchanges, Aboubakor Sanogo forcing him into the first save of the night. The striker went close again only two minutes later, as he rose above his marker at the far post but could only head McKeown’s deep hanging cross from the left, wide of Carnell’s post, which was a bit of a let off for the Robins.
However only moments later, Ashton carelessly gave the ball away deep inside their own territory and Jamie McDonald pounced and beautifully despatched the ball into the bottom corner from 18 yards to give the visitors the lead just short of the 20 minute mark.
Ten minutes later, Warrington doubled their lead and McDonald got his second of the night, racing through from a long ball deep inside the Warrington half, prodding the ball past a hesitant Carnell and the striker made no mistake slotting into an empty net.
Ashton failed to create any meaningful chances as the Robins had to chase the game, Warrington looked more than comfortable as the game went into the break.

The Robins looked more fired up for the second half, and 15 minutes in, Jack Dyche got on the end of Mason Fawns’ free kick to half the deficit. Dyche was becoming more instrumental for the Robins, trying an audacious effort on the edge of the box which failed to seriously work the goalkeeper.
But moments later, Dyche’s through ball played into Nic Evangelinos, who was brought down by the on-rushing McMillon, gave the Robins the chance to level from the penalty spot with 15 minutes to go. Jack Dyche stepped up, but saw his penalty saved by McMillan, who made amends to the foul leading to the penalty by diving low to his left, to keep the scores at 1-2.
Warrington began to drop deeper and defend for their lives but right at the end of the allotted five minutes of injury time, Ashton’s pressure paid off when Sean Williams played a terrible ball to Ashton’s Mason Fawns’ and his perfect cross was met by Jack Dyche’s diving header which beat McMillian at full stretch to send the tie into extra time.

With no meaningful chances for either side during extra time, the tie had to be settled with a penalty shootout. Mason Fawns stepped up first for the Robins and blazed his penalty well over the crossbar. With McCarten converting for Warrington, Nicky Platt was next to step up and his penalty was saved to keep the shootout at 0-1. Substitute James Barrigan stepped up for the Yellows and doubled Warrington’s lead on penalties. Chalmers and Pilkington put away their penalties for Ashton, however Sean Williams and Jamie McDonald coolly converted to set up a tie with Tamworth.
Ashton: Carnell, Smalley, Lees, Chalmers, Ryan-Khanye; Platt, Roberts (Pilkington), Tomsett; Chadwick (Fawns), Dyche (Woodford), Evangelinos.
Subs not used: Eckersley, Ollerenshaw.
Warrington: McMillian, Carden (Goulding), McKeown, Barns, McCarten, Gumbs, Vassallo, Williams, McDonald, Gray (Barrigan), Sanogo (Bakkor)
Subs not used: Ascroft, Jennings.