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07.10.08 - UniBond Premier Division

Eastwood Town 2-1 Ashton United

Pre season title favourites Eastwood Town were made to fight all the way for three points as they recovered from a half time deficit to beat battling Ashton United at Coronation Park on Tuesday.

Ashton, playing up the steep slope began well and fashioned a chance in the opening minute as Ben Deegan’s pass presented Ryan Moore with a good chance, but his shot went straight at Shane Redmond.

Eastwood’s team of six footers always looked dangerous going forward, Ross Gardner’s early effort went wide of the target.
The Robins more than held their own with Deegan proving to be a handful for the Badgers defence, his tenacity won him the ball off Mark Hume but his shot lacked direction under pressure as it went harmlessly over the bar.

A rare defensive lapse from Danny Caldecott ended with Andrew Todd intercepting his pass and his shot was tipped around the post by Terry Smith.

His opposite number Redmond gifted Ashton their opener on 26 minutes as Moore picked out the unmarked Iain Howard on the back post, from an acute angle the winger’s angled drive at the near post squirmed under the keepers’ body and into the net.

Eastwood dominated the latter part of the half but Ashton were able to deal with all that was thrown at them although the home side did have an effort cleared off the line during an almighty scramble.

Town began the second half well, Ian Holmes had an early effort that he fashioned himself by beating two tackles, but his shot went wide.

Ashton did create a couple of good openings as they pressed for a second goal, Moore did well to turn following an Alex Frost throw in and his cross fell to Ian Bennett, whose shot was tipped around the post by Redmond.

In Ashton’s longest spell of pressure in a half largely dominated by the Badgers, Moore again created a good chance this time with a cushioned header into the path of Ian Kearney, only to be denied by a good tackle.

As play switched to the other end Gardner saw a shot well saved by Smith diving to his left, but from the resulting corner floated in by Richard Dunning, Paul Robinson rose above the Ashton defence to head home the equaliser.

Once Town were level, they quickly grabbed the initiative and pegged Ashton back for long periods, Holmes sent in a dipping shot that went over the bar after a free kick wasn’t dealt with properly by the Ashton rearguard.

Bennett, back from his long suspension gave a wholehearted display and this was proved with a superb tackle to dispossess Todd and his long range effort went over the bar.

Deegan then headed a Frost centre over the bar as Ashton looked to gain the initiative, but with just twelve minutes remaining the home side grabbed the winner.

Giant substitute Marc Smith headed on a through ball to Holmes, who headed over the advancing Smith to give Eastwood the lead that in truth they didn’t look like surrendering.

Ashton were limited to a Deegan header that went wide following a cross from Caldecott, but the game was largely played in the Robins half for the remainder of the game as the Nottinghamshire outfit held on to move within a point of seventh placed Ashton.

Ashton United: T Smith, Rose, Caldecott, Eames, Kearney, Frost, Moore ( B Smith 86), Bennett, Deegan, Richards, Howard.

Ashton Goals: Howard (26)

Eastwood Goals: Robinson (62), Holmes (78)

Venue: Coronation Park

Attendance: 314

Reporter: Steve Lee