Over and Out

By Steve Hobson

Robins humiliated in Premier Cup clash. Report by David Robinson

Ashton exited the Manchester Premier Cup as former manager Danny Johnson and his Radcliffe team belied their league position with a clear cut victory. With the visitors fielding a much changed line up it was 2 players with a more familiar look who combined as Dale Johnson set up Joel Melia for 2 shots from the edge of the area which were both blocked. McMahon then progressed down the right wing for Borough before providing a cut back from which Matthew Davies fired just over the top and another cross by McMahon was then headed over by Elliott Rokka.

A great touch by Johnson then put Eddie Toner in the clear but he failed to clear former Ashton keeper Chris Cheetham with his effort and Will Haining then had a header saved at the far post. On 20 minutes a through ball from Matty Chadwick found Johnson beating the offside trap and providing a confident finish but 5 minutes later Radcliffe were level as Omar McKenzie curled home a fine free kick after being fouled and just 2 minutes later a long ball saw Rokka’s lay off knocked home by McMahon. Chadwick could then have equalised after Josh Steadman set him up but he could only roll his effort wide and just before the interval Joel Melia won a free kick 20 yards out and saw Jeff King curl the ball on to the top of the cross bar.

Within 5 minutes of the restart the hosts won a corner after McMahon had 2 efforts blocked and Rick Smith was able to force the ball home at the far post and ten minutes later another corner saw Davies’s delivery knocked over the line by McMahon. With Borough now well on top a square pass saw sub Jack Hindle cut inside before missing the near post and Nathan Valentine then bought a decent save out of Steadman. The scoring was completed after good work by Tom Hulme picked out Davies for an emphatic finish low down and at the other end Jona Gosling forced Cheetham to palm away a stinging effort.