Page 17 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Helston Athletic 110323

Match Report

WELLINGTON A.F.C. 3 ASHTON & BACKWELL UTD. 2
INJURY TIME HEARTACHE FOR A & B

Stags were presented with a bobbly, dry, slopping pitch which made fast-
moving football played on the ground difficult, but that did not show for their
opener, Bennington-Mannings winning the ball and feeding it carefully to an
overlapping Cummings to slot in on the left in the ninth minute. The Tangerines
almost drew level immediately, moving quickly down field, only for Wright’s
finish to be very weak and gathering easily by Roberts.

When minutes later the home side overran the away defence, Roberts had to
be at his best to dive to save McKenna’s drive from a Nicholson cross, indeed
the young stopper was tested again in the first half by McKenna, their man of
the match, when a mis-headed ball required him to dive at the striker’s feet to
gather. But he could do no more than get a hand to the ball from Quick’s
penalty, the equaliser, awarded for a Charlie Saunders foul in the box. Other
than Brereton’s effort that skimmed the bar from distance, there was little to
split the teams as they went off at half time.

Second period and Tangerines were soon on sustained attack, looking for
another, but the Stags defence and keeper were equal to the task, so it was
disappointing that the home side re-took the lead from a soft goal, ball not
cleared and Quick passed to McKenna, whose low weak shot slipped in at the
left post; it was nearly 3-1 a couple of minutes later, Roberts saving this time
well from McKenna.

Try as Stags might to regain the initiative, with changes up front, there was
effort but not enough vision, eventually a goal came from the spot, with two
minutes left, when Bennington-Mannings was upended in the box and scored
from the penalty. However the visitors were undone in added time, Burt beating
Bishop in the air for the ball to creep in on the right for the winner.

A game that will not linger long in the memory, attention turning to the visit of
7 placed Helston to the Lancer Scott on Saturday. M.O.M James White
th
1 Roberts, Ford, Cummings (sub Solari 82m), Connor Saunders © (sub
Jaiyeoba 70m), Recce Hedges, Bishop
White, Cattermole (sub Newman 62m), Banks, Bennington-Mannings, Charlie
Saunders.

Reporter Don Davies.