ASHBY IVANHOE 2-4 BIRSTALL UNITED
LEICESTERSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION 
TUESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2011

Ashby Ivanhoe’s disappointing season continued as they fell to a second successive defeat in the Leicestershire Senior League as visitors Birstall United ran out 4-2 winners to leave the defending champions stuck in mid-table after eight matches.

The match didn’t start well for the home side when the visitors took an early fourth minute lead and it was poor defending which led to the goal when a throw in on the right found a player inside the area and he was given time to get the ball under control before firing a low shot past John Noon.

After the goal Ashby did start to have the better of the match but they failed to cause the opposition any problems and it was Birstall who missed a chance to double their advantage on the half hour when a player was left with just Noon to beat but the shot was narrowly wide.

Ashby then had a chance to equalise a couple of minutes later when the ball fell kindly inside the area for Luke Thorogood to have a shot but from close range the keeper produced the save to tip the ball over the bar.

With seven minutes of the first half remaining the visitors doubled their advantaged when a ball from the right was played over the defence into the area and with Ashby’s offside trap being unsuccessful it left the player with a simple finish past Noon to give Birstall a 2-0 lead at the break.

Ashby started the second half well and on 53 minutes they went close to pulling a goal back when right back Smith tried to lob the keeper from outside the area but the ball was tipped over and then on the hour mark a corner found Phil Gibson unmarked inside the area but his header was over.

Ashby’s pressure did deservedly result in a goal in the 64th minute when a ball forward found Gibson and his header down found Jack Willars at the near post and he turned the ball first time past the keeper for 2-1.

After the goal Ashby’s performance dropped and Birstall took full advantage and just inside the final 20 minutes they restored their two-goal advantage when a long ball forward from the keeper resulted in a poor defensive header which then fell to the forward who was left with a simple header past the stranded Noon to make it 3-1 and then with six minutes remaining it became 4-1 to the visitors when possession was given away cheaply inside the Ashby half which left for another easy finish.

In the final minute Ashby scored a fortunate second goal when a chance resulted in a own goal but Ashby had long been beaten for the fourth time this season and if it wasn’t for some of Noon’s saves it could have been a lot more but Ashby did miss a few good chances themselves and they will now turn their attentions to the second qualifying round of the FA Vase on Saturday when they will look to cause a shock against current East Midlands Counties league leaders St Andrews and reach the first round for the very first time.