Ashfield 2 Renfrew 5 , West of Scotland League Conference A, Peugeot Ashfield Stadium, Glasgow - Kick-Off 1.45pm Ashfield welcomed Renfrew to the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium for the first time in many years. It was in the 2014-15 Season that the `frew last visited and both teams came into this encounter on the back of excellent victories against Maybole (4-1) and Bonnyrigg Rose (3-0) respectively. As Referee Chris Hughes blew his whistle to start proceedings it was clear that both teams were on the `front foot`in terms of attacking each other and for the first 20 minutes the game ebbed and flowed from one side to another. As early as the 2nd Minute the visitors almost took the lead after a lovely `dinked` cross found the onrushing No 10 for the `frew who glanced a header which cannoned back of the base of the post & into the Ashfield Keeper`s gloves. The visitors surged forward at every opportunity however the `field looked dangerous on the break with Dean Leverage and Luke Crerand getting some joy down the left hand side. Following a corner in the 10th minute Ryan McManus managed to drift away from his marker and his netbound header was blocked on the line by the `frew Centre half. However in the 16th Minute the deadlock was broken when the visitors were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. The ball was driven through a ruck of players leaving the Ashfield Keeper unsighted and the ball ended up in the corner of the net. Ashfield 0 Renfrew 1. The visitors upped their game for a while after this and the `field had to withstand some pressure albeit the efforts were from outside of the box. Callum Graham, up front for Ashfield, had been well marshalled by the`frew back two and struggled to get any room however on the half hour almost levelled for the `field as the ball was played through to him by Baz Hepburn however as he finished with aplomb the Referee had blown his whistle for offside. The game became scrappy for a while after this with the heavy underfoot conditions not helping and both teams went into the break knowing that it was going to be an interesting Second Half. ? HT:- ASHFIELD 0 RENFREW 1 ? Ashfield started the second half much better, shooting in at the `Possilpark` end of the Ground and began to get some joy down the flanks. On the 50th Minute, after some nice interplay found Colin Leverage on the right he delivered a tremendous cross into the box which was met by the `field Centre Half Sean Doherty and his bullet header was brilliantly turned away by the impressive `frew Keeper. The `field were left to `rue` that miss as within a minute the visitors had increased their lead following a solo effort from the Renfrew Centre who picked the ball up on the edge of the box before weaving himself passed a couple of defenders and driving the ball in at the Keepers near hand post to put the `frew 2-0 ahead. Ashfield 0 Renfrew 2. A blow for Ashfield after a lively start to the half however this did not affect the home side who pulled themselves back into the Match six minutes later following some nice play between Baz Hepburn and Ryan McManus and it was the latter who picked up the ball up on the edge of the box before evading a couple of tackles and lashing the ball passed the `frew keeper. Ashfield 1 Renfrew 2. It was `game on `now and things began to `heat up` on the park with a couple of crunching tackles and the Referee had to utilise his Cards on a number of occasions. On the 61st Minute however the game was turned on its head after a long thrown in from Dean Leverage on the left was cleared out to the edge of the box by a Renfrew defender only to find Dean`s brother Colin steady himself before driving the ball into the far corner of the net to the delights of the Players, Management and Officials of Ashfield. A tremendous effort ! Ashfield 2 Renfrew 2. The game was `up for grabs` now & the home side surged forward at every opportunity with the `frew keeper being called into action on a couple of occasions. However this game changed again when with 19 minutes on the clock left, the visitors were awarded a free kick just inside Ashfield`s half. The ball was won by a `frew defender who headed the ball to the edge of the box finding his colleague who volleyed the ball into the top corner of the net. Ashfield 2 Renfrew 3. A tremendous goal which could have `knocked the stuffing` out of a side however Ashfield came back and after some good play on the edge of the box by Callum Graham, the big Ashfield striker was hauled to the ground and the Renfrew midfielder was shown a 2nd yellow. A great free-kick from Baz Hepburn was brilliantly punched away by the `frew keeper as the home side continued to press. A couple of substitutions from both sides, however with 5 minutes left on the clock, it was `game over`after lovely play on the edge of the box drew a tackle from Luke Crerand resulting in a penalty to the visitors. The `frew Centre forward drove the Kick into the roof of the net to ensure the three points were heading along the M8 to Renfrew. Ashfield 2 Renfrew 4. To make matters worse for the home side in the last minute, Goalkeeper Berhas in the Ashfield Goals failed to clear a pass back giving the ball straight to the forward who lobbed the ball over the Keepers head to put a sore scoreline on the books for the `field. Ashfield 2 Renfrew 5. The `field must `dust themselves down` as are back down to Ayrshire next week and a visit to New Pebble Park to take on Annbank United. ? FT:- ASHFIELD 2 RENFREW 5 ? Man of the Match:- Some good performances in the Black and White hoops in a game which at one point could have swung either way however with his crossing coupled with the equalizing goal the award goes to Colin Leverage. ? Attendance:- Closed Doors ? Ashfield Team:- I Berhas, C Leverage, C Beedham, C Friel, S Doherty, D Leverage, B Hepburn, J Howat, C Graham, L Crerand and R McManus. Subs:- C Sideserf, M McManus, M Boyce, A Cairns, J Adam, G Hearton and J Barr.
