Ashville got their 24/25 campaign off to a winning start, defeating Market Drayton Town by a goal to nil at Ray Parker Stadium on Saturday.

The Villa put in a solid, cohesive performance which prevented their visitors from getting into any kind of rhythm for large parts of the game. 

Ashville had their first chance early doors when the Wallasey clubs newest signing, Tom Hewlett, was put through one on one after 3 minutes. Unfortunately the midfielder saw his effort go straight at Holmes in the Market Drayton goal.

The early chances were all Villa and just before the 10 minute mark the home side were at it again. Last season’s double player of the year award winner, Peter Morgan, trying an audacious chip over Holmes that went just wide of the upright.

The game continued to swing in Ashville’s favour with free kicks and corners a plenty without much coming from them bar some half chances. The next real threat on goal came after 21 minutes when Morgan shimmied his way into the area before playing the ball across to his opposite wing-mate, Lennox Allward. Allward took a touch then fired an effort towards the near post which needed a sharp save from Holmes to keep it out.

Gradually Market Drayton started to get more into the game as Ashville’s relentlessness wavered slightly and after 34 minutes they couldn’t believe they weren’t in front. A free kick from the right hand side was swung in before being headed onto the bar. The ball was then guided goalwards before an excellent goal line clearance from Carl Murphy kept the scores even.

Ashville quickly snapped back into life going straight up the other end and seeing a snap shot from Madden saved by Holmes before back to back efforts from Peter Morgan which were saved and curled wide respectively. 

The half time whistle put a temporary hold on a great game of football but it wouldn’t take long for the second half to burst into life. Just 8 minutes after the restart Morgan was in behind again. The forward was seemingly tripped inside the box but the referee waved away the appeals saying the ball had been won cleanly.

A minute later and Villa were pressing their foot against their visitors throat. This time Madden feeding Hewlett who did brilliantly to create space in the area for a shot which was again sharply saved by Holmes.

The home side had found their mojo again in the second half and were determined to make it count. Just after the hour mark Peter Morgan yet again in the right place as he found himself in acres of space in the 6 yard area. The ball was played across to him by Madden and the young forward thought he had a tap in only to see Holmes dive down and push the ball off the line at the last second. Ashville were getting closer…

As in the first half though the visitors did start to slowly make some headway as Villa eased off the gas slightly. A free kick just outside the area initially blocked by Murphy in the wall before the rebound was volleyed in. The volleyed effort bobbled up just in front of Reynolds in goal who saw the ball bounce off his midriff and into the path of an attacker. Thankfully defensive pressure led to the ball going out for a goal kick but once again Villa were shaken back into sharpness.

Just a few minutes later and Ashville had their winner. Some hard battling by Joel Kelly in midfield eventually saw the ball fall to substitute Tom Davies. Davies found the advancing Porter who, after evading a tackle himself, then found Peter Morgan’s replacement, Joe Dulson. Dulson dropped his shoulder, sending his defender the wrong way before cutting back onto his left foot and curling an excellent effort past the reach of Holmes and into the bottom corner. It was a goal worthy of winning any game from the teenage star who has made himself an ever present in the first team since his promotion from the under 21’s over the last season and a half.

There was some late pressure from the away side which didn’t really amount to much but besides that the remaining minutes passed without much incident and Ashville can celebrate putting 3 points on the board on the opening day.

Ashville are next at home on Tuesday when they welcome Winsford United to Ray Parker Stadium with kick off at 7:45pm. This fixture has been reversed following floodlight issues at Barton Stadium. Ashville will then cap off a week of home games when they welcome Foley Meir to Wallasey on Saturday 3rd August with kick off at 3pm.