Ashville suffered their second loss in a week after falling one nil to Eccleshall at Ray Parker Stadium

It was certainly a game to forget for the neutral as Ashville and Eccleshall played out a bland midfield heavy scrap fest but things started brightly for the home side. Quick, incisive build up play down the left got Tom Hewlett in behind but he poked wide of the post after just 40 seconds.

The drab first half and disjointed Villa performance was perhaps partly due to the home side losing the returning Lewis Willingham and last season’s Manager & Players’ Player Of The Year, Peter Morgan, inside the first 17 minutes of the game due to injury. 

Both sides did show promise in the first half but couldn’t put it together in the final third. Joe Dulson saw two well sliced efforts go harmlessly wide but that’s as close as Ashville got.

Eccleshall did however find the vital touch of quality to take the lead on the stroke of half time. A one-two got Liam Hallam into a shooting position and the Eccy striker thumped it into the top corner with venom.

The visitors didn’t seem to lose any momentum over the half time break, they narrowly missed the target less than two minutes into the second half from a similar position from where they scored the goal but alas it was wide.

The injury woes continued for Ashville as marquee summer signing, Mark Madden, hobbled off in the 53rd minute. Injuries have plagued this young Ashville side so far this season which has seen the Wallasey club struggle for momentum and consistency, especially at home.

Liam Tomlinson was sin binned for the visitors just after the hour mark in a poor half for both teams that was dry of incidents or noteworthy moments.

Josh Maldon came closest to a goal with a free kick which he whipped narrowly over with ten minutes to go and followed it up with a tame low drive that was pulled wide a minute later.

After such a stellar performance in midweek, Ashville followed it up with their worst performance of the season to date. They will be looking to right their wrongs and get instant revenge on Eccleshall who make a second trip to Wallasey in four days, this time in the Edward Case Cup. The game will be played on Tuesday, 8th October with kick off at 8pm at Ray Parker Stadium