Ashfield F & A C 4 Maybole 1 , Saracen Park, Glasgow - Kick-Off 2pm

Ashfield welcomed Maybole to Saracen Park for the first time in many years and produced four quality finishes to take the famous Springburn outfit to the summit of the West SuperLeague First Division.

Both teams were eager from the Kick-off to take the game to each other and it was the visitors that started the stronger with the Ashfield Midfield still trying to get to grips with the game early on. A few early corners from Maybole were well cleared by the Ashfield defence. As the half wore on Ashfield started to get into their rythmn and with their first real piece of concerted pressure almost broke the deadlock when Paul Maxwell missed a header from a corner kick.

Ashfield almost incredibly took the lead on the 22nd Minute when Chris Prior in the Ashfield goal took a Free Kick from inside his own half which completely deceived the Maybole keeper and crashed off the underside of the bar to safety. Maybole, however went straight up the park and almost took the lead. A ball through the middle was collected by the Centre Forward & his shot was blocked by Prior only to be retrieved by the same player. His cutback was met by a colleague who slammed the ball against the post & Ashfield managed to clear.

Maybole were to pay for this & in the 26th Minute Ashfield took the lead. Some excellent work on the right wing resulted in the ball being played to Ali Martin at the far post and his downward shot bounced off the ground and over the Keeper to put the `field 1-0 up. Ashfield 1 Maybole 0.

Ashfield started to play some really good football with Chalmers on the right wing and Martin on the Left wing stretching the visitors & on the 34th Minute Ashfield found themselves 2-0 up. A superb through ball from Ali Martin found Paul Maxwell through one-on-one with the keeper however his shot was parried out to the onrushing Shaun Fraser who drilled the ball low & hard and into the corner of the net to put the `field 2-0 up. Ashfield 2 Maybole 0.

This gave Ashfield a nice cushion and they needed to consolidate before half time however a minute after scoring they found themselves pegged back by a strong Maybole attack. A corner was played to the far side of the six yard box and was met powerfully by the Maybole Centre Half and his looping header found the back of the net. Ashfield 2 Maybole 1.

HALF TIME:- ASHFIELD 2 MAYBOLE 1

It been a very competitive first half and Ashfield knew they were in a game as the second half started off in the same fashion as the first. Ashfield however were beginning to string their passes together and Captain Mark Thomson & Shaun Fraser in the Midfield were beginning to take control. The next goal was going to be all important and it was the home side that got it in style. Ashfield were awared a Free-Kick 20 yards out after Paul Maxwell had been brought down. Mark Thomson delivered a dipping 20 yard shot which found the top left hand corner of the net to the delight of the home support. It really was a terrific strike. Ashfield 3 Maybole 1.

This was the cushion Ashfield needed and they started to pile on the pressure on the visitors with Tony Chlamers having two efforts cleared and saved by the Maybole keeper. Maybole were still dangerous and had a couple of chances, but were thwarted by Chris Prior in the Ashfield goal and Jamie Reilly at the back, who was having a great game against a physical forward line. As Maybole pushed forward Ashfield were beginning to find gaps in the home defence and with 4 minutes to go, Man of the Match Paul Maxwell found himself through one-on-one with the keeper. Maxi steadied himself and drilled the ball past the keeper for his 6th Goal of the Season. This capped off a fine display from the Ashfield Centre. Ashfield 4 Maybole 1.

As the Referee brought proceedings to an end, Ashfield have now won their last 4 League Matches against tough opposition in Girvan, Clydebank, Cumnock & Maybole and can go into next week`s encounter with Kilsyth Rangers with confidence. Well done the `field.


FULL TIME:- ASHFIELD 4 MAYBOLE 1

Man of the Match:- A great Team Performance from the `Meninblack&White` with everyone putting in a shift against tough opponents however for second week running Paul Maxwell gave the visitors defence a torrid time & capped off his performance with a fine goal.

Attendance:- 109

Photographs by:- Inga