A steely, disciplined defensive performance from Ashville helped them overcome Eccleshall in the Edward Case Cup first round on Tuesday evening

The two sides played out an uninspiring single goal league affair at the weekend in Eccleshall’s favour and Ashville were determined to get their own back

Villa’s revenge started with a bang when Joe Dulson headed home Connor Courtnell’s corner after just four minutes. The young forward won the corner after being denied what looked like an easy tap in by Eccy keeper Barry Weston

Villa continued to apply pressure but Eccleshall held firm enough to shut the hosts out for the time being. The visitors had some half chances of their own but nothing that had anyone in a white shirt too concerned

With ten minutes to go until the break Ashville were hit by yet another injury. Goalscorer, Joe Dulson, coming off worse in what seemed an innocuous collision with Weston. The teenager has sustained an ankle injury and becomes the latest addition to the growing injury list at Ray Parker Stadium

Ashville responded to this set back by doubling their lead just five minutes later. A superb team goal that started from a throw in on the left and was worked superbly across the pitch and down the right hand side. That’s where it found Connor Rowland who had overlapped from right back and his low cross, the 8th pass of the move, found Allward at the near post. His shot was saved and the rebound fell to Tom Hewlett, the 9th player involved in the sequence, who tapped it in for 2-0.

Ashville could of made it 3-0 just two minutes later but Josh Maldon’s cheeky free kick attempt was saved by Weston

The half would end in chaos for Villa however when a penalty was given following a goal line block from an Eccleshall corner. The goal line block included the use of a hand by Maldon who saw red for denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity. Luke Draysey was the man elected to take the spot kick and despite Jamie Owen guessing the correct way and getting a hand to it, he couldn’t stop the ball from finding the back of the net

The second half would be a real test of character for Ashville, down to ten men and with only a slender one goal advantage. 

The visitors applied almost all the pressure in the second half as Ashville sat back and defended their lead. Jamie Owen was forced into a couple of decent saves before the hour but they struggled to penetrate the stubborn, disciplined Ashville defence

Their closest opportunity of the half so far came in the 62nd minute. A counter attack presenting Draysey with a free header in the box but he directed it over the bar

They would get even closer on 70 minutes when clever wing play on the left hand side presented a crossing opportunity. The cross became a pinball scenario inside the area with the ball finally breaking to the back post where a last ditch challenge from Courtnell prevented a tap in equaliser

Ashville were determined to secure the victory and almost claimed a third goal on a rare forage forward. Lennox Allward chased down a pass beyond the Eccy defensive line, catching the visitors off guard. Allward then pulled the ball back for Lewis Moynes but the pass was a little heavy and Moynes’ quick thinking allowed him to lay the ball off for Sam McNeill. The young midfielder took a touch before firing a shot that looked goal bound but for a deflection en route

With ten minutes left on the clock it would come as no surprise to anyone that Eccleshall turned the heat up to 11 in an attempt to equalise and take the game to penalties or to try and snatch a comeback against ten men. Another gilt edged chance was wasted however. A cross from the right found an attacker at the near post whose shot was saved brilliantly by Owen. The rebound fell at the feet of Callum Besford who somehow put his shot over

The visitors saw yet another opportunity go begging in the 89th minute. Ashville were caught high up the pitch and Eccleshall took advantage by switching the play to the left flank. A cross was whipped low into the back post and despite having time and space, the attacker managed to slice his effort wide

There was still time for a moment of controversy deep into added time as Liam Hallam was sent off for endangering an opponent after he kicked Connor Rowland as the Eccleshall man was attempting to take a free kick. Rowland was also booked for delay of restart

The final whistle would blow shortly after and Ashville progress to round 2 of the Edward Case Cup. Villa will be looking to build on this momentum when they travel to New Mills in the league this weekend. They will then return to Ray Parker Stadium to take on Marske United in the first round of the Isuzu FA Vase on Saturday 19th October, kick off at 3pm