Valentines Cup Cheer

Robins move into the quarter finals. Report by David Robinson

Ashton moved into the last 8 of the Integro League Cup after an entertaining victory over high flying first division outfit Farsley. The hosts welcomed back Matty Chadwick up front but it was the visitors who should have opened their account on 8 minutes as a nice flick by Nightingale sent Ryan Watson into the area from where his far post ball saw Aiden Savory provide a glaring miss. On the quarter hour a long clearance by Lee Knight sent Chadwick speeding down the right wing before his square pass was tucked home by Ryan Crowther.
4 minutes later and Mark Lees’ high punt into the area saw Chadwick provide some extravagant control before firing into the far corner. Knight’s effort from a narrow angle then saw Crowther denied from almost on the goal line before Chadwick curled a decent effort just wide.

On the resumption Pilling’s clearance went straight to Colley with the keeper just able to recover in time but shortly afterwards Colley turned past Joe Connor and tee’d up Savory for a close range finish and just past the hour the Celts moved forward and Nightingale’s pass gave Colley an easy chance to level the scores. Farsley’s centre forward, Colley, a handful all evening, then charged down Pilling’s attempted clearance and saw the ball run against the post before Cavell Coo put Knight away through the middle with the winger placing his pass too far ahead of Crowther.

With both teams trying to avoid the penalty shoot out Richard Smith made a great run along the by line and saw Crowther just blocked out with Knight firing into the side netting and sub Walshaw was just unable to lift his effort sufficiently to beat Pilling. A through ball by Banim then saw Crowther shoot straight at the keeper amidst shouts for a penalty and Crowther finished a great move by rolling Smith’s pass agonisingly wide of the post. With time running out sub John Roberts was clearly brought down by Hardy in the area with Crowther confidently firing Ashton into the next round.

Team: Pilling, Coo, Stachini, Connor, Mason, Lees, Smith, Lowe (Smalley), Chadwick (Roberts), Crowther, Knight (Banim). SNU: Haining