Ashfield F & A C 5 Glasgow Perthshire 1 , Saracen Park, Glasgow - Kick-Off 2pm

Our close neighbours, Perthshire, were the visitors this afternoon to Saracen Park for this Sectional League Cup encounter. A very healthy crowd occupied the stand as the teams ran onto the park with Ashfield reverting to Blue and Yellow with the 'Shire' wearing a Black strip with white flashes.

Ashfield started the match the much brighter team pinging passes around the pitch straight from the whistle and almost scored after two minutes. Mark Thomson crossed deep to the back post where Ali Martin was lurking. Martin rose but saw his angled header just miss the far post.

Ashfield looked to be in the mood and Tony Chalmers had the next chance after six minutes, cutting inside before unleashing a left foot shot which ex-Ashfield keeper Mackay saved well. The opening goal was inevitable for the home side and it came after twelve minutes. A free kick was awarded just outside the 'Shire' box. Ali Martin stepped up and floated a curving shot that caught the underside of the bar and into the net before Mackay could move. A fabulous strike from the winger. Ashfield 1 Perthshire 0.

It was one way traffic at this stage with Ashfield firing in shots from all angles. Thomson had the next strike from thirty five yards which was palmed out by Mackay but Craig Smith could not capitalise to prod the ball into the net. Thomson was really a threat to the 'Shire' with his powerful shooting and again showed this as he blasted an effort just wide of the goal after twenty minutes.

The visitors had hardly got out their half at this stage but should have equalised after twenty two minutes. A nice one-two resulted in the 'Shire' striker racing in on goal but as the Ashfield goalkeeper raced out he prodded the ball wide of the post.

This chance did not deter the 'Field' as firstly Jim Smith hit the outside of post before his brother Alan headed against the bar from two yards after thirty two minutes.

Sean Fraser was complimenting Thomson in the midfield area, spraying some beautiful passes and competing in the physical battle. He sent O'Donnell through after thirty eight minutes but Mackay again got down well to block the 'Dazzler's' shot. for a corner.

O'Donnell had the last chance of the first half glancing a header over the bar from a Thomson free kick.

HALF TIME: ASHFIELD 1 PERTHSHIRE 0

The second half got underway with Ashfield still pushing forward and this pressure payed off after fifty three minutes with an excellent second goal. Craig Smtih picked the ball up on the edge of the 'Shire' box and passed to Tony Chalmers. Chalmers fired in a cross come shot which arrived at the back post to Darren O'Donnell who finished superbly with his left foot. Ashfield 2 Perthshire 0.

The 'Shire' almost hit back immediately with a shot from twenty five yards but the Ashfield goalkeeper got down well to save.

Tony Chalmers was having a smashing match and scored Ashfield's third goal after a great solo effort on fifty six minutes. He slipped past his marker approx twenty two yards out and fired in a left foot shot that took a slight deflection which soared past Mackay into the corner of the net. Ashfield 3 Perthshire 0.

The visitors tried to play football but were being overrun by an eager Ashfield team. Thomson struck the bar after seventy four minutes with a whipped free kick before the fourth goal was delivered. Sean Fraser stroked a perfect pass through to Craig Smith who outpaced the defender before slotting the ball past the onrushing Mackay. Ashfield 4 Perthshire 0.

The match was virtually over as the clock ticked by, but the 'Shire' still battled and should have scored after eighty two minutes but the striker sliced his shot wide from ten yards out.

Ashfield were also still battling and scored a fifth after ninety one minutes. Thomson picked the ball up after a throw in deep on the right hand side of the 'Shire' area and whipped in a lovely cross that just missed Alan Smith but fell to Ali Martin who stroked the ball in from six yards. Ashfield 5 Perthshire 0.

This looked to be the last action of the match but the visitors grabbed a consolation deep in injury time. A corner was delivered into the Ashfield box which was only half cleared and the 'Shire' player smashed in a volley which went through a ruck of players and into the corner of the net. Ashfield 5 Perthshire 1.

It was an excellent display today from the 'Field', showing some great passing and clinical finishing.

FULL TIME: ASHFIELD 5 PERTHSHIRE 1

Man of the Match:- Terrific performances from many in the Ashfield Team - good to see Jamie Reilly back in the famous Ashfield Strip looking sharper than ever ! Maxi & Darren on top form however the unsung hero today was Alan `Spider` Smith who never missed a 50-50 and was tremendous throughout.

Attendance:- 225 approx.

Photographs by:- Inga