Ashfield F & A C 2 Lesmahagow F C 0 , Saracen Park, Glasgow - Kick-Off 2pm.

Ashfield entertained a fast improving Lesmahagow at Saracen Park this afternoon and collected the three points with a goal in each half from Paul Maxwell. Ashfield had a strong wind behind them in the first half and should have been more than 1-0 up at the interval. Lesmahagow had a real go at Ashfield in the first 20 minutes of the Second Half and were unlucky not to equalise but after Paul Maxwell scored Ashfield`s 2nd, the home side ran out comfortable winners

A beautiful afternoon greeted the teams onto Saracen Park this afternoon. Ashfield were in their Black and White Hoops with Lesmahagow in their traditional Red and White Strip. Ashfield started the match with a strong wind behind them and took the game to the 'Gow' from the off. Mark Thomson tried his luck after eight minutes but his twenty five yard effort was easily gathered by the keeper.

Experienced Defender Jim Smith started the move for the next chance after ten minutes. He played a neat ball to Gordon Passmore who sprayed the ball to Tony Chalmers on the wing. Chalmers raced down the line and cut back a brilliant cross that eventually squirmed to the back post with the Lesmahagow defender scrambling the ball away. It was all one way traffic at this stage with wave after wave of Ashfield pressure but the 'Gow' defence to their credit were defending for their lifes. Robert Wright and Mark Thomson were commanding the midfield area with Jamie Reilly and Jim Smith thwarting any chance of Lesmahagow offensive movements.

Darren O'Donnell almost broke the deadlock after twenty two minutes which would have capped excellent build up play. Mark Thomson received the ball on the right side of Midfield and shrugged of his marker before delivering a piercing cross to the back post area. O'Donnell rose majestically and looped his header over the keepers head from ten yards only to see the ball crash off the bar and over for a bye kick.

Ashfield were now turning the screw and deservedly scored the opening goal after twenty four minutes. Robert Wright 'fizzed' a pass to Ali Martin on the left wing. Martin darted past the defender and produced a fantastic cross to the back post which was met by the 'Gow' defender whose clearance collided against the post and fell to Paul Maxwell who volleyed the ball low into the net from five yards (Above Pic). Ashfield 1 Lesmahagow 0.

Lesmahagow tried to play passing football after this but were closed down quickly by an eager Ashfield team. It was almost 2-0 after thirty two minutes when Paul Maxwell picked up a loose throw out from the 'Gow' keeper and raced in on goal. The Big Striker cut the ball across the goal to an onrushing O'Donnell who only had to prod the ball into the empty net from close range but his left foot effort squirmed off his foot and by the post. A real let off for Lesmahagow.

Darren O'Donnell tried to make amends after this and was unlucky after forty one minutes swivelling in the box and firing a shot that was well saved by the feet of the Lesmahagow keeper.

The referee looked at his watch and blew for Half time. A very good first half performance from the 'Field'!.

HALF TIME: ASHFIELD 1 LESMAHAGOW 0

Lesmahagow started the second half looking to improve on their first half performance and their supporters were not to be disappointed as they seemed a different team. The strong wind that Ashfield had in the first half was now the catalyst that the 'Gow' needed as they started very strongly.

Lesmahagow were awarded a free kick after fifty five minutes just outside the Ashfield box which was initially blocked by the wall but the 'Field' had to scramble the ball away from the resultant chip back into the area.

This was a warning to Ashfield and Mark Thomson came close shortly after as his twenty yard shot narrowly went wide after good play from Robert Wright.
The 'Gow' were gaining confidence and playing some nice football. A long throw was delivered into the Ashfield area on the hour mark that missed everyone apart from the 'Gow' attacker who had ghosted in at the back post and looked a certainty to score but his shot sliced wide of the post to the relief of Chris Prior.

Ashfield were struggling to get out of their half not due to the wind but due to an improved Lesmahagow team and attitude. The visitors had the next chance after sixty eight minutes when a free kick was whipped in and again was not dealt with at the back post but to the 'Field's' relief the onrushing 'Gow' player missed his kick and the ball sailed to safety.
This was now becoming a real 'cracker' of a match with both teams really going for the victory. The 'Gow' were now a real formidable outfit and almost levelled after seventy two minutes only to see Jamie Reilly scramble the ball to safety after the Lesmahagow Striker had slid the ball past the onrushing Prior.

Ashfield Manager Stevie Rankin then made some brilliant tactical changes by bringing on the flying machine Craig Smith to replace Darren O'Donnell and Ryan Cairley for the impressive Robert 'Bert' Wright. These changes made an impact straight away as Ashfield sealed the three points by scoring a lovely second goal after seventy five minutes.

The ball was played to Ali Martin who crossed brilliantly to Craig Smith deep at the back post area. 'Smiddy' did well to nudge the ball past the 'Gow' keeper and Paul Maxwell had the easiest task to stroke the ball into the net from two yards out to give the 'Field' a valuable cushion going into the final ten minutes. Ashfield 2 Lesmahagow 0.

Ashfield had weathered the Lesmahagow storm and were now in command of this game. Ali Martin came so close to making it three after eighty two minutes only to see his angled shot 'crack' against the post from fifteen yards. Craig Smith for Ashfield is always a handful but when you bring him on a substitute against a tiring defence then its double trouble. Smith used his pace to race in on goal after eighty five minutes after excellent work from Ryan Cairley but his shot was well blocked by the 'Gow' stopper for a corner.

The game was now entering the ninety minutes and the 'Field' were now cantering to another victory but a flashpoint erupted with Ryan Cairley and the opposing number 3. Both players were called forward by the referee and it appeared that words were still being exchanged between the players. AmasinglyAmazingly Ryan Cairley was shown a straight Red Card but the 'Gow' player was only shown yellow. A very harsh decision by the referee considering that the game was not at all dirty and was approaching injury time.

Ashfield played the remaining few minutes with ten men but were untroubled as the referee blew the final whistle to keep the dream alive!!

FULL TIME: ASHFIELD 2 LESMAHAGOW 0

Man of the Match:- A very professional performance from everyone in the Black & White hoops today with some excellent individual displays. No more so than from the latest addition to the Saracen Outfit - Paul Mangon. Paul has come into the back four recently and has been immense, putting in a really good shift this afternoon against tricky opponents.

Attendance:- 57

Photographs by:- Inga