Pre-Season Friendly - Pollok 2 Ashfield 1 , Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow - 26/09/2020 - 2pm Ashfield headed to the South Side of Glasgow yesterday looking to continue their preparation for the opening League game of the Season and as fixtures go could not have picked a more testing challenge. However when Referee brought proceedings to a close at the end of a terrific 90 minutes the `field can be extremely happy with their performance albeit losing out by the narrowest of scorelines. The Team set up was more in lines to what they looked like when COVID-19 put a halt to last Season in March however it was good to see a couple of additions to the squad. There were many friends on the opposition line up and bench and it was good to see Ex-Ashfield players/Management in Murdie McKinnon, Billy Kerr, Gary McCann and Shaun Fraser however it was the `thorn` in Ashfield`s side from the last game between the teams that made an immediate impact. Adam Forde gave the `field a `hard time` in their last Match and was everywhere in the opening 20-25 minutes linking up well across the park with both wingers and frontman Stuart McCann. It was a frantic start to the game and the `field got an early warning of the pace of Stuart McCann when he `ghosted` in between the Ashfield Central defence to shoot against the top of the bar. Cross balls for some reason were causing the `field difficulty and on the 12th Minute the home side took took the lead courtesy of a bullet header by the smallest man on the park Adam Forde. Pollok 1 Ashfield 0. Ex-Pollok Derek Moore had no chance and 2 minutes later was picking the ball out of the net again following a corner which found an onrushing Stuart McCann who guided a shot into the corner of the net to put the `lok 2-0 up. Pollok 2 Ashfield 0. The `field knew they had to `weather the storm` and this they did and after 25 minutes began to make inroads up front with Baz Hepburn and Callum Graham making their presence known. Ashfield thought they had pulled a goal back following the `lok keeper failing to hold a shot with Callum Graham nudging the ball away from him and finishing however the Referee `chalked` off the goal for an infringement. The `field did not have long to wait as Callum Graham picked up a loose pass and drove at the `lok goal before finishing with aplomb to reduce the deficit. Pollok 2 Ashfield 1. Both teams were committed to moving the ball quickly to try and score again before HT but it was not to be. ? HT:- POLLOK 2 ASHFIELD 1 ? The home side `freshened` things up at the start of the half making 3 Substitutes and were not as quickly `out the blocks` as they were in the first half and as the half wore on, the `field came more and more into it. Again a couple of cross balls caused problems in the `field defence and Moore had to be alert on a couple of occasions however it was the `field and in particular Callum Graham that were asking questions of the `lok back four and were forced into a couple of last ditch tackles. A controversial moment happened with 20 minutes to go when the pace of Graham got in between the `lok Centre half and the advancing Keeper and as Callum nudged the ball to the side was brought down by the `lok substitute Keeper. The Referee, who had an excellent game throughout, had a call to make and waved play on. As the clock ticked towards the 90 minutes, Ashfield had a succession of three corners in the closing minutes and on the last one, Callum Graham managed to get his foot to the cross and diverted the ball against the underside of the bar. A really good effort from the `field as the Referee brought proceedings to a close in the Glasgow sunshine shortly after. This was a tremendous `workout` for the visitors with all areas being examined and came through the test very well indeed. At this moment the League Matches are due to start on the 10th October 2020 however this will be discussed at a higher level next week. In the meantime Ashfield welcome Vale of Clyde to Saracen Park next Saturday in a Friendly. ? FT:- POLLOK 2 ASHFIELD 1 ? Ashfield`s Team:- Moore, C Leverage, Friel, Barr, Doherty, Crerand, Trialist, Giblin, Graham, Hepburn and Hearton. Subs:- Brown, McManus and Dakhill (GK) ? Man of the Match:- Luke Crerand ? Attendance:- Closed Doors.
