Ashfield welcomed Forth to the Peugeot Stadium for the first time in three Seasons and both sets of fans were looking forward to the encounter between Teams who were sitting at the top of the table and who were top scorers in the division. Both teams were playing in their traditional strips as Referee Blair Comerford started proceedings. Ashfield had made a couple of changes to the Team that started against Ardeer Thistle to combat the free scoring Forth forwards and it was the home side that picked up the pace after an initial `sparring` period. The `field were stretching the Forth back four with Parker and Leverage playing out wide and this gave room for Giblin and Friel to make forays into the box. Parker was first to test the Forth Keeper with an excellent shot which was well blocked and next it was the same player who hit an angular drive just passed the post. On the 18 minute mark it was the home side who broke the deadlock after a ball was cleared on the edge of the box. The Ashfield Captain Ciaran Friel picked the ball up from 22 yards out and drove the ball low and hard into the corner of the net to the delight of the home support. Ashfield 1 Forth Wanderers 0. This gave the home side a lift and were determined to add to this lead however had to wary as the visitors had broke on a couple of occasions and looked extremely dangerous at set pieces also. The `field in their bid to get a 2nd goal found themselves in an offside position on a couple of occasions however in the 35th minute the home side went further ahead following a free-kick fully 25 yards out. Keigan Parker and Michael Giblin both lined up the free-kick however it was the Ex-St Johnstone and Blackpool forward who whipped the ball over the wall and into the top corner of the net giving the Forth Keeper no chance. Ashfield 2 Forth Wanderers 0. Shortly after and Billy Stevenson broke through the visitors offside trap and as the Keeper advanced placed the ball passed him however the ball flew agonisingly wide before the Referee brought proceedings to a halt. HT:- Ashfield 2 Forth Wanderers 0.
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There were no changes to the line ups as the game started off at a great pace with the visitors trying to get themselves back into the Match. The game itself was played in good spirit however for some reason the Referee had brandished a whole host of Yellow Cards so many of the players had to be careful. The game was effectively over in the 55th minute following firstly a good save from the Forth Keeper after another free-kick from Parker. From the resultant corner, the Referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. There were no appeals however it appeared that one of the Ashfield players was held back in the box. Ciaran Friel took the penalty sending the Keeper the wrong way to put the `field 3-0 up. Ashfield 3 Forth Wanderers 0. The home side made a couple of changes introducing young striker Gavin Goodall again after his wonderful winner at Lanark two weeks ago and with his first touch of the ball drove the ball goalwards only to see the ball cannon off the base of the post. It was not all one way traffic as Forth pushed men forward at every opportunity and with 20 minutes to go pulled a goal back their overall play deserved. An overhead kick was played to the far post and Kris Jarvie managed to get ahead of the Ashfield defender and guide the ball under the despairing lunge of John Mullen in the Ashfield goal. Ashfield 3 Forth Wanderers 1. There were still plenty of chances had from both teams and Goodall almost increased the home side`s lead with an excellent left foot drive which went narrowly over. Following a break, Keigan Parker was brought down outside of the box by Jordan Grant and unfortunately the Forth defender was given an early bath with a 2nd yellow card. As the Referee brought proceedings to a close, the `field will be delighted with the start to the Season winning 5 out of 5. It`s off to Keanie Park, Johnstone next Saturday to play Johnstone Burgh whilst Forth head to the Ayrshire coast to take on Saltcoats Victoria. FT:- Ashfield 3 Forth Wanderers 1.
