ASHBY IVANHOE RESERVES 1-2 BARDON HILL SPORTS RESERVES
LEICESTERSHIRE COMBINATION DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2011

Ashby Ivanhoe Reserves put in a good performance in their local derby against Bardon Hill Reserves but it was the visitors who overturned a half-time deficit to run out 2-1 winners.

Ashby made the better start to the match and with their first chance they took the lead. It came when a through ball found George Carline running through the defence and his first time shot was placed past the keeper and into the bottom corner.

The home side were the better side throughout the first half and they went close to a second goal on a couple of occasions with the best of them coming ten minutes before half time when a free kick just outside the area was taken quickly leaving Jack Willars with a shot which the keeper saved before the loose ball was lobbed towards the back post and after a clearance off the line a cross into the area found Willars again but this time is shot cleared the bar leaving the score at 1-0 at the break.

The second half saw Bardon come out much better and they were looking dangerous when going forward and just before the hour mark they found the equaliser. The goal came from an Ashby attack and when the ball was cleared long down field the defence failed to clear and a shot beat Sam Deacon in the Ashby goal for 1-1.

Ashby responded well and just three minutes later they had a chance to retake the lead when a cross field pass found Jake Cain on the edge of the area and with just the keeper to beat he curled his shot towards the far corner but unfortunately the ball struck the post and Bardon cleared.

With the match becoming more end-to-end as both sides looked to take the lead it presented more chances and in the 70th minute Bardon took a 2-1 lead when a shot from the edge of the area beat Deacon.

Inside the final ten minutes Bardon had a chance to extend their lead with a third goal when a corner resulted in a header which was cleared off the line by a combination of the Ashby keeper and a defender and then with five minutes remaining Ashby could have been level when a shot was spilled by the keeper but with the ball rolling towards goal he managed to get back before it crossed the line and despite Ashby pushing forward in the final few minutes Bardon held on for the three points in a match where Ashby’s play deserved at least a point.