Irvine Victoria F C 0 Ashfield F & A C 6 , Victoria Park, Irvine, Kick-Off 2pm


An Ayrshire team away in a Cup tie.... a hard challenge.... as Ashfield headed to Irvine to face Irvine Victoria today in the West of Scotland Cup 2nd Round. The teams ran out with the home side displaying their home kit of Orange and Blue with Ashfield changing to their Yellow and Blue Hoops.

This game started at great pace with both teams determined to push forward at every opportunity. Vics had the first clear chance after 5mins when McKay, making his debut, in the Ashfield goal blocked well from close range. Ashfield responded with Craig Smith firing a shot just over from 20 yards.

The match then ebbed and flowed with Ashfield taking control of the early encounters and the pressure paid off after 12 mins with Ashfield opening the scoring. An accurate pass was played to Craig Smith's feet who flicked the ball past the Vics Defender and dashed fully 30 yards before smashing the ball low and hard to the Keepers left and into the net to give a deserved lead to the 'field'. Irvine Vics 0 Ashfield 1.

Irvine Vics bounced back from this setback and produced some neat football but they could not penetrate the Ashfield rear-guard and it was the Possil team that went close again after 22mins when O'Donnell flicked on to Smith who lashed in a net-bound shot that was well saved by the 'Vics' keeper. Irvine then had a great chance to equalise after 30mins when a corner was delivered into the Ashfield box only to see a flashing header narrowly miss the Ashfield net.

Ashfield then delivered a severe blow to Irvine Vics in 37mins with a second goal. A mix up in the Vics defence resulted in Darren O'Donnell picking the ball up just inside the box and as the Ashfield forward tried to shield the ball was crudely clipped from behind with the referee pointing straight to the penalty spot. Penalty to Ashfield. Ali Martin placed the ball on the spot and brilliantly smashed the ball into the net to make it Irvine Vics 0 Ashfield 2.


HALF TIME: IRVINE VICS 0 ASHFIELD 2

The sides emerged for the 2nd half with Ashfield taking control straight from the whistle creating chances almost immediately with Cairley, Gault, O'Donnell, Smith, Carberry and Gault controlling the match. Ashfield almost made it number three after 50mins when O'Donnell weaved past his counterpart before delivering a cross to Craig Smith who headered the ball just over the 'Vics' crossbar.

Irvine Vics tried hard to get back in the game but were overwhelmed by the pace of Ashfield and the 'killer' blow was delivered by Ashfield after 66mins. Carberry picked the ball up and sprayed a pass to Ali Martin who neatly flicked to O'Donnell just inside the Vics penalty box, the prolific goalscorer then decoyed everybody by firing a low hard shot past the keeper and into the net to the delight of the large Ashfield support. Irvine Vics 0 Ashfield 3.

This goal spurred Ashfield on and two minutes later it was 4-0!!. A free kick was awarded to Ashfield approx 25 yards out. Ali Martin stepped up and smashed the ball against the 'Vics' wall only to see the ball fall to O'Donnell to tap in his second and Ashfield's fourth of the game. Irvine Vics 0 Ashfield 4.

Irvine seemed shell shocked by this performance from Ashfield and the Glasgow side were not finished as wave after wave they came forward. The fifth goal came after seventy minutes resulting from great interlinking play from Thomson, O'Donnell and Gumley with the ball finally being threaded through to Ali Martin who scored his second of the game and thirteenth of the season with a blistering drive into the Vics net from 10 yards out. Irvine Vics 0 Ashfield 5

Not content, Ashfield kept piling forward and the final goal was scored after 80mins with Mark Thomson stroking a pass to Chalmers who turned and swivelled before sweeping an inch perfect cross to an onushing Gumley who stroked the ball into the empty net from close range. Irvine Vics 0 Ashfield 6.

This was an awesome performance from the `field against tricky opponents and the team are really beginning to gel.

FINAL SCORE:- IRVINE VICS 0 ASHFIELD 6

Man of the Match:- Hardest decision of the day, as everyone in the Ashfield jersey put in a tremendous shift, however Darren O`Donnell was simply outstanding, helping himself to two goals and making a couple and back to his best which has seen him top the goalscoring for the last two seasons.

Attendance:- 100 approx.

Photographs by:- Inga, more pics of this game can be seen in my Gallery page, please click the following link: Irvine Vics v Ashfield Gallery Pics