Page 33 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Saltash Utd 100423

Today’s Visitors

ILFRACOMBE TOWN 0 V ASHTON &BACKWELL UTD 1
IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE RESULT

A regular phrase in football is “Can the lads do it away on a Tuesday night on
a difficult surface or circumstances”. Last Tuesday all lads prove they could, a
2 1/2 hour coach journey to Ilfracombe on a very bumpy, bouncy, uneven
surface. They may have got home around 1 am, but they’ve brought 3 points
back with them from North Devon, in a game that definitely wasn’t pretty to
say the least but evenings like this is, perhaps its all about the result.
Due to injuries, a suspension and work commitments, the Stags lined up with
7 regular faces missing and it was a reflection of the spirit within the club to
see 3 reserve lads on the bench, TJ, Jordan Bishop, and Will Solari. They all got
on and played their part in the victory.
The Hosts understandably started much brighter in a 1 half that was devoid
st
of many attacking opportunities. The most notable was a shot from distance
from Ilfracombe which bobbled in front of Tom Roberts and looked like it was
going to trickle between his legs. But a quick reaction and a diving save
prevented the ball from crossing the line. On the half-hour mark, Tom Anthony
sent his free kick out on the right wing deep to the far post, a poor Ilfracombe
clearance sent the ball back into the middle of their area, where Shea Mannings
was 1st to react and head home from close range to give Ashton & Backwell
the lead. Halftime, 0-1.

Early in the second half Ashton &Backwell had the best moments of the game,
which saw a header from Reece Hedges well saved and a shot from substitute
Tom Smart (TJ) go just narrowly wide. In the last 10 minutes, the visitor’s
defence was resolute as it come under some pressure from the hosts, but all
of their efforts came to nothing. Whilst it was a solid team performance young
Luke Newman deserves a mention as a man of the match he put in, perhaps
his best performance since joining the club in the summer. The left back was
solid and quick in defence, often found himself in midfield picking up vital
second balls and winning important challenges, plus getting forward whenever
he could.
Full-time 0-1
Team. Roberts, Anthony, Joe Bishop (Pearce), Reece Hedges, Newman, Conner
Saunders, Charlie Saunders, Cummings, banks, Mannings (Smart), Langlais
(Solari) . Reporter Mike Thomas