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31.10.09 - UniBond Premier Division

Burscough 1-2 Ashton United

Gareth Richards produced a stunning header in the fourth minute of injury time to secure a last gasp win at Burscough that increased Ashton United's lead at the top of the UniBond League to five points.

The Robins began full of confidence and early pressure resulted in Richards having a shot that went wide and then a sublime pass from Daryl Weston over the head of Lewis Fields into the path of Iain Howard but he shot over the bar from an acute angle.

Burscough were denied a goal with their first attempt when James McCulloch got on the end of a Fields cross, but his shot after a neat turn was superbly tipped over by Terry Smith.

After that scare, Ashton pushed forward with Howard a key figure on the left wing, he was the recipient of a pass from Matty O'Neill, but had his shot saved by Kyle Clancy. Howard also had a free kick that was deflected and a shot blocked when in space as the Robins continued to threaten.

The home side burst into life midway through the half, Matty Kay had a shot during a scramble that was deflected wide, McCulloch fired over from another cross by Fields and when Cayne Hanley sent in across, Gareth Johnson's sliced clearance was palmed away by Smith at the expense of a corner.

From the resulting corner from Kay, Ashton Bayliss headed wide.

An end to end half saw Richards produce a run at the heart of the Linnets defence, only to shoot over the bar, but four minutes from the break Ashton took the lead.

Patrick McFadden was found in space on the left, his cross appeared to be heading straight for Clancy, but Bayliss headed the ball away from his keeper into the path of Ian Bennett, who headed home.

The second half saw Ashton guilty of giving away possession far too easily and frequently, although Smith was rarely tested, the Ashton keeper did have a scary moment when he raced out of his goals along the touch line and bring down Hanley  on the edge of the area.

Kay's free kick was easily cleared by the Robins defence, but soon after pressure finally told when a long throw from Fields was headed into the area and McCulloch produced a first-time shot that gave Smith no chance.

Burscough with their tails up continued to look the side most likely to score again and substitute Darren Byers pounced on a loose ball following a free kick, but saw his effort go wide.

As the game entered its final ten minutes, Ashton began to pose a threat for the first time in the second half, Ian Kearney headed straight at Clancy from a Danny Byrne free kick and Richards had a shot saved after Callum Flanagan and Howard exchanged passes.

Substitute Ben Smith had a chance in injury time as he cut inside from the left before unleashing right-foot shot that went wide.

That appeared to have been the last chance of the game, but with seconds remaining Howard passed the ball back to Danny Caldecott in space and he sent in an inch perfect cross that saw Richards rise to head the ball past the outstretched hand of Clancy for the winner before being mobbed by jubilant team-mates.

There was barely enough time for the restart to take place before the final whistle blew to signal the Robins tenth win of the season.

Ashton United: T Smith, Frost, Caldecott, Weston, Kearney, Johnson, O'Neill (Byrne 70), Bennett (B Smith 76), Richards, McFadden (Flanagan 65), Howard. (sub not used) Moore

Ashton Goals: Bennett (41), Richards (90+4) 

Burscough Goals: McCulloch (70)

Attendance: 174

Reporter: Steve Lee

MATCH STATISTICS

Goal attempts ON target: Bur 4-7 Ash

Goal attempts OFF target: Bur 4-4 Ash

Corners: Bur 4-3 Ash

Offsides: Bur 3-1 Ash

Free kicks conceded: Bur 12-14 Ash

Yellow cards: Bur 1-0 Ash

Red cards: Bur 0-0 Ash