Olympic Dreams Over

Robins Return Home Pointless. Report by David Robinson

Ashton ended an ultimately disappointing week with defeat in the West Midlands going down to 2 goals by debutant striker Kristian Ramsey-Dickson. With another debutant Craig Ellison in goal the visitors started the brighter as Ben Richardson’s long cross reached Matty Burke at the far post who fired over the top. For Rushall former league player Dele Adebola played a through ball to Obeng who saw his effort blocked by Lynch.

Leading marksman Martin Pilkington then played a 1-2 with Lee Rick before being denied by Gemmell but on 17 minutes Pilkington registered his 4th goal in the last 8 days after receiving the ball from Pearson and making a great run across the penalty area before firing home. Adebola then made a fine run to the byline and saw his cross sliced wide of the far post by Chris Lynch before Pilkington’s curling effort was held at the near post by Gemmell.

As the interval approached Chris Denham went over under challenge in the Rushall area but saw penalty claims waved away. Adebola’s pullback saw Ramsey-Dickson miscuing before Obeng fired over, but the hosts were level as Eckersley played the ball wide to Ramsey-Dickson who sidefooted into the top corner, despite looking possibly offside.
After the break Denham put in a great run before seeing his cross fisted away and Young’s return ball into the area clawed away by the Rushall keeper before Joe O’Neill was pulled over in the penalty area with the ref again unmoved. A corner then fell to Lynch whose effort was palmed away before the home side increased the pressure leading to a corner, which was headed home unchallenged by Ramsey-Dickson.

Ashton’s best chance of levelling came when a corner was returned into the area by Gary Gee only for Lynch to glance his header wide of goal; whilst at the other end Adebola turned past Burke before being blocked out by Richardson, before Adebola fired the final chance over following a quick break.

Team; Ellison, Richardson, Pearson (Logan), Gorton, Lynch, Young, Denham (Coppin), Rick, O’Neill (Gee), Pilkington, Burke. SNU: Abadaki, Halford.