Reid on target as Ashton gain NWCFL lift-off at Lower Breck
An 8th-minute free-kick by Matthew Reid secured Ashton Athletic’s first victory of the North West Counties season, succumbing Lower Breck to their first home defeat since Irlam in August.
The game opened up on seven minutes, and it was the side rooted to the foot of the table who took the lead. Matthew Reid’s stringing free-kick flew right through the Breck wall and drifted past a diving Roberts.
The hosts responded with two chances in quick succession, firstly new signing Connor McCarthy’s flicked effort was nicely thwarted by the legs of Joseph Smith before the Ashton keeper was called into action again as Ste Milne’s fierce drive was met by the outrushing Smith.
Ashton regained their attacking prowess and alerted Theo Roberts with a Jamie Nicholson shot warming the gloves of the Breck keeper before the final chance of the first period went to the hosts as a dangerous cross into the area was met by another debutant, Billy Smart, with his header flashing past the post.
HT: Lower Breck 0-1 Ashton Athletic
Lower Breck reciprocated from their poor first half showing by going with full velocity in the second period. Connor McCarthy was in the thick of the action once more - one effort took a vicious deflection but Smith was able to grasp at it, then a header from a ball across the face looked harder to miss, somehow heading over the bar.
A second blow was almost dealt by the visitors as an audacious effort from Max Rogers looped over Roberts and cannoned off the woodwork.
Harry Hagen and McCarthy almost architectured equalisers for the hosts. A strike from range from the new Breck forward almost crept into the far post before Hagan’s volley unphased Joseph Smith but certainly was close to dipping under the bar.
Ashton’s Rogers was instrumental in another counter-attack for the visitors, threading through Zach Conway but his effort was smothered by Theo Roberts.
Smart, Nick Ryan and Harry Hagen hit effort which came close for the Breck but never threatened the target nor any of them was down the throat of Joseph Smith in a largely dissatisfying and disappointing result for Lower Breck.
FT: Lower Breck 0-1 Ashton Athletic
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