Ashfield F & A C 3 Aberdeen East End 1, Saracen Park, Glasgow - Kick-Off 3pm


Ashfield welcomed Aberdeen East End this afternoon to a rainy Saracen Park sporting their new Black & White strips sponsored by the `Colin Hutton Group`, and it didn`t take long before Ashfield set out their intentions to be in the hat for Round 2. Straight from the kick-Off the ball was played up to Darren O`Donnell who twisted past a couple of defenders however he hit his shot into the ground and the impressive East End Keeper gathered. Shortly after, the ball was played out to Craig Smith who darted into the penalty box and drove the ball goalwards only to see his shot deflected. However the deadlock was broken in the 4th Minute after a lovely move between Darren O`Donnell and Alistair Martin resulting in the latter being upended in the box with the Referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Alistair Martin did his usual job of despatching the penalty into the net to put the `field 1-0 up. Ashfield 1 Aberdeen East End 0.

Ashfield threatened to run riot at this stage and Mark Thomson hit two free-kicks close, one going over the bar and the other being stopped by the East End Keeper`s legs. Following another Ashfield corner Gordon Passmore got his head to the ball and his net bound effort was cleared off the line. Would these missed chances come back to haunt Ashfield was all in our thoughts and as the first half wore on the team from the North fought their way back into the Match. In the 25th Minute a lovely move down the right was played into the box with an East End forward driving the ball straight at McGovern to the relief of the Ashfield Team, however shortly after, the game was level. Ashfield were lining up their wall with McGovern issuing instructions from the near post, when the East End player drove the Free-Kick into the corner of the net catching the Ashfield team by surprise. An amazing finish from so far out. Ashfield 1 Aberdeen East End 1.

It was `game on `now and both teams were trying to assert their authority with the game going from end to end. The Referee showed a good deal of common sense in allowing the match to flow however neither side could make the breakthrough before Half Time.

HALF TIME:- ASHFIELD 1 ABERDEEN EAST END 1

East End started the Second Half off the way Ashfield had started the First Half and pinned Ashfield back for the first twenty minutes, with the `field struggling to make any forward impact. In the 56th Minute after some excellent build up play East End drilled a shot just wide of McGovern`s right hand post with the big goalie beaten. Shortly afterwards a lovely floated cross was met by the onrushing forward who bulleted his header narrowly over to the relief of the home support and a minute later Stevie McGovern had to dive low to his right to palm away a net bound effort from a free-kick. Davie Gumley was brought on to bolster the Midfield area for Ashfield and with 16 minutes to go Ashfield took the lead slightly against the run of play. A long throw-in was delivered into the Aberdeen box with the ball being deflected across to the onrushing Alistair Martin who outjumped the big East End No 2 and headed the ball over the Aberdeen keeper and into the net to the delight of the home support. Ashfield 2 Aberdeen East End 1.

Ashfield had their tails up after their narrow escapes and East End`s frustrations were evident when the East End No 2 went `over the ball` in a tackle and was given a straight Red Card by the Referee. Two minutes later and Ashfield booked their passage into the next round when Alistair Martin completed his hat-trick after some excellent work by Martin Gault and Darren O`Donnell. The winger met O`Donnell`s perfect cross brilliantly and bulleted his header low into the corner of the net. Ashfield 3 Aberdeen East End 1. The Ex-Albion Rovers winger is deadly in front of goal and has amassed an impressive 9 goals so far this season.

Ashfield almost added a fourth after a lovely floated cross was met by Gault and his looping header came back off the bar and was eventually cleared to safety. The Referee brought the proceedings to a close as the sun came out and the `field will be delighted to have overcome this tricky hurdle.

FULL TIME:- ASHFIELD 3 ABERDEEN EAST END 1

Man of the Match:- For his all round play and to cap it off with a wonderful hat-trick gives Alistair Martin this
weeks` Man of the Match award. Well done Ali !

Attendance:- Approx. 100

Photographs by:- Inga, more pictures from this match can be seen in my Gallery page on the following link: Ashfield v East End Gallery Pictures