ASHBY IVANHOE RESERVES 1-3 BLABY & WHETSTONE ATHLETIC RESERVES
LEICESTERSHIRE COMBINATION DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 2011

Ashby Ivanhoe Reserves put in a good performance against Blaby & Whetstone Athletic Reserves but despite leading for the majority of the match three goals inside five second half minutes saw the visitors turn the match around and take home the three points.

Ashby made the better start to the match and were putting pressure on the visiting defence but they couldn’t find an early breakthrough and in the 15th minute Blaby went close to taking the lead when they broke forward and a ball over the top of the Ivanhoe defence was chased down before the shot was sent towards the bottom corner but the ball struck the foot of the post and the follow up shot was hit wide.

Ten minutes later and with Ashby continuing to play the better football they deservedly took the lead with a well taken goal when a cross into the area was headed clear but only to the edge of the area where Adam Rose took a touch before firing a shot across goal and into the bottom corner.

Ashby could have extended their lead six minutes before the break when more good work from Rose saw the ball played forward for Sam Kirk to run onto and after advancing towards goal the keeper was equal to his shot.

There was one final chance in the first half and it fell to Ashby again and they should have doubled their advantage when a shot at goal was parried by the keeper and the loose ball was headed over the bar by Sam Goodyer leaving the half time score at 1-0.

The second half started with Blaby on the attack and inside the opening ten minutes they could have been level with a couple of chances but a headed effort cleared the bar and then minutes later they were awarded a free kick just outside the area but for the second time in the match the shot struck the post to keep Ashby in front.

Midway through the second half and the game changed as Blaby went and scored three quick goals to turn the match around. The first came in the 68th minute when a free kick from the right touchline was played into the area and a header was sent towards goal which Sam Deacon saved well but the ball ran loose which was quickly put away to level the score.

Two minutes later and Blaby should have been ahead when the ball was worked forward before the pass to the player on the edge of the area brought a shot which was again saved well by Deacon but with their next chance they did take the lead although it was a fluke goal which gave them the lead when the player on the left played a ball into the area which went over the keeper’s head before finding the net at the far post and then in the 74th minute it was 3-1 when Ashby gave the Blaby player too much time on the ball and he controlled the ball before sending a shot beyond Deacon and into the bottom corner.

Ashby couldn’t respond and despite playing the better football for three quarters of the match they left empty handed in a match where a victory would have been thoroughly deserved.