REPORT: Squires Gate 6-2 Ashton Athletic

Squires Gate picked up a fourth straight win in our return to Blackpool.

After five straight away games, Gate returned to Blackpool hosting Ashton Athletic who themselves had won their last five games.

Three goals in 30 minutes gave Andy Clarkson’s men a quick lead before Ashton could even breath.

It took Gate just two minutes to open the scoring when Riccardo Egidi pounced on an Ashton Athletic defensive mistake. Egidi kept his composure when the ball fell to him in the six yard box to slot past keeper Martin Pearson.

Gate struck again just two minutes later. Striker Ric Seear picked up the ball on the edge of the box before curling a shot low through a crowd of people into the bottom corner.

The goals seemed to wake Ashton up who didn’t come into the game until the 15th minute. Adam Gilchrist had two golden chances to grab a goal back for his side but couldn’t convert either. First he shot wide before minutes later Ben Fletcher saves well down low before Gilchrist fires over the spilled ball.

Dean Ing had the chance to add to Gate’s lead in the 24th minute but he headed over from a freekick inside the six yard box.

Gate got the third goal they were craving on the half hour mark. Ryan Charnley curling the ball past Pearson in goal into the bottom corner to extend Gate’s lead.

Adam Gilchrist finally got his goal on the stroke of half time for the visitors when he was left unmarked at the back post heading in past Ben Fletcher.

Half time: Squires Gate 3-1 Ashton Athletic

Gate added a fourth early into the second half as the condition began to deteriate. Adam Summer sending in a corner into the near post decided the keeper and went straight into the goal.

Summer was involved again four minutes later when his cross was turned into his own net by an Ashton defender.

Gate had the chance to add another minutes later but Dean Ing’s Goal was ruled out for offside. His low drive was spilled by the keeper, Riccardo Egidi picked up the ball and chipped it to the back post where Dean Ing was waiting but his header was offside.

Ashton came close in the 68th minute but their strike from outside the area hit the bar. Dave Rossall was in the right place to clear the ball.

Ashton reduces the goal difference six minutes from time when Marcus Cusani beat Ben Fletcher.

Gate finished off the scoring a minute before full time. Sub Finley Clarkson getting in on the goal scoring when he pounced on a defensive mistake to round the keeper and roll the ball into the empty net.

The win moves Gate upto 8th in the league, Andy Clarkson’s side host Silsden next Saturday looking to go six games unbeaten.

Gate: Fletcher, Gray, Rossall, Bamba, Sumner, Booth, Charnley, Ing, Boyd, Seear, Egidi. Subs: Clarkson, Salthouse, Mullen, Riley, Staunton-Turner.

Report by Mark Ashmore