Two unfortunate own goals saw Ashville suffer a second home defeat in a row as they lost 3-2 against Abbey Hulton United

A very even and competitive game for the opening 20 minutes saw neither side create any clear cut chances with the game mostly contested in midfield. The visitors then stunned the home side by breaking the deadlock. Daniel Cocks picking the ball up from 25 yards out and firing an effort goalwards which took a deflection on the way through, catching out Jamie Owen in the Villa goal.

Ashville nearly responded three minutes later when a corner was spilled by the keeper and Peter Morgan tried the guide the dropped effort towards goal but got underneath it.

Ashville took advantage of this purple patch a minute later by grabbing an equaliser courtesy of Mark Madden. Joe Dulson beat his man out wide before fizzing a cross into Madden who expertly curled his first time strike into the corner.

A chaotic first half was then bookended with Abbey taking the lead once again. Lewis Holdham doing excellently to beat Courtnell before firing a low volleyed cross into the area. The cross was close enough to Owen for the Ashville keeper to need to push the ball away from goal but in a cruel twist of fate his parry came back off Matty Henderson and into the net.

Holdham saw another chance fall his way on 75 minutes when his low drive across goal narrowly went wide.

Three minutes later and Abbey Hulton had their coveted third goal. Matt Ward did well to create space for himself in the area before seeing his effort saved by Owen with the rebound tucked home by Kie Brown. Appeals for offside were waved away by the officials despite Brown appearing to be in an illegal position. 

Villa found a route back into the game with 5 minutes to go when Josh Maldon cracked home a free kick from just over 20 yards. His strike was very nearly excellently saved by Aaron Woolrich who got a hand to it but the power of the strike from Maldon mixed with Woolrich’s own momentum saw the ball find its way to its intended destination.

The goal didn’t seem to give Ashville the boost they were hoping for and the game petered out and they were unable to salvage a draw.

Ashville remain in 5th place in NWCFL First Division South ahead of next weekends home fixture against Shawbury United. That game will take place at Ray Parker Stadium on Saturday, 14th September with kick off set for 3pm