Match Preview

With the new season just a week away, Ashton United end their pre-season preparations this weekend with a home fixture against eighth tier Northwich Victoria. After the Robins heavily lost three games on the bounce in late July, Paul Phillips and Steve Halford’s men bounced back with aplomb on Tuesday beating New Mills 5-0 and they will be hopeful of building up a head of steam with the visit of Mickleover Sports coming on the 15th August at Hurst Cross.

The five goal victory in the High Peaks this week stopped the recent rot for the Robins after some heavy home defeats and a couple of wins 4-1 at North West Counties outfit Chadderton FC and followed by a 2-0 victory at Evo-Stik Division 1 North, Mossley.

The squad is finally coming together and with a number of influential players hitting form just at the right time, with optimism about the season ahead building.

The acquisition of ex-Oldham Athletic man Chris Sutherland this week has only further enhanced the squads undoubted strength and depth. With three former professionals now in the starting XI, the Robins will not be short of experience or quality going into the new 2015-16 campaign, with an interesting mixture of youthful exuberance and older statesmen currently plying their trade at Hurst Cross.

That all important clean sheet was acquired by the men in Red and White on Tuesday evening and after conceding 13 goals in three fixtures, the back four will have taken real confidence from a shut-out against New Mills. With Captain Jay Gorton the only main stay in the defence over the summer, the influential skipper has led his side with courage and will hope to keep things tight once again against a strong Northwich Victoria attack.

Robins Key Man
Coming through the doors on Thursday morning, Chris Sutherland joined the list of big name signings acquired by the club over the summer. With Kyle Jacobs, Will Haining and Joe Connor boasting hundreds of appearances in the professional and semi-professional game between them, Sutherland’s time at Oldham Athletic will help him join this elusive clique.

Showcasing his undoubted talents against New Mills, the clubs newest acquisition will bring something new to the squad as he can combins both the attacking and defensive sides of the game, making him the complete package. Registering on the scoresheet during his debut, the midfield maestro will plan to chip in with more crucial goals and assists over the course of the season, with his sights set firmly on exploiting Northwich Victoria’s back four this weekend.

Our Opponents
Narrowly missing out in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One play-offs last season, Jim Gannon’s Northwich Victoria side will once again be pushing for promotion in 2015-16. After losing out in the end of season lottery to Bamber Bridge over two legs, the Vics have been invigorated by a prolonged rest this summer and will plan to once again be one of the stand out sides in their respective division.

The Cheshire based side conceded 39 times throughout the previous campaign, gaining them the reputation as the second best defensive team in the league. Recording plenty of 1-0 and 2-0 victories, the club have a defence that could rival sides in the higher echelons of the Non-League game.

The way the side picked up clean-sheets with relative ease made them hard to beat last season and it was clear to see that manager Gannon’s former defensive prowess has now completely rubbed off on his squad.

It was the goals for column that at times hindered the Vic’s after hitting the net a mediocre 75 times and the club have been quick to bring in Burscough FC striker Jordan Williams over the summer after the 22 year old scored 12 times for the Linnets during 2014-15.

Williams has been joined by combative midfielder Michael Monaghan after the 21 year old impressed for league rival’s Droylsden FC. These two coups have strengthened the side and these new faces at Wincham Park have seemingly convinced forward Richie Bennett and England Fustal International Stuart Cook to commit their futures to the club as well.

In typical fashion a number of players have departed too in an end of season clear-out. Callum Henry, Danny Meadowcroft, Gary Burnett, Scott Harries and Tim Deasy will all be looking to find first-team football elsewhere next season, with these departures making the squad look for the time being slightly light on numbers.

The side have the ability to really push on next season and the Vic’s will have every chance of taking a place in the end of season play-offs for a second season running.