ASHBY IVANHOE RESERVES 6-4 EARL SHILTON ALBION RESERVES
LEICESTERSHIRE COMBINATION DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 10TH DECEMBER 2011

Ashby Ivanhoe Reserves came out on top in a ten-goal thriller against Earl Shilton Albion Reserves after recovering from falling 4-2 behind just after the break before coming back to win 6-4 for their first win in eight matches.

After last week’s disappointing defeat against Sileby, Ashby were looking for three points against a side just above them in the table and they got off to the best possible start as with just seven minutes on the clock they took the lead when Sam Kirk’s right wing cross was met with a headed effort from Josh Hunt for his second goal in successive games.

Earl Shilton went close to an equaliser with their first chance in the 14th minute when Ashby failed to clear and a powerful shot from 20 yards crashed against the post but they did draw level four minutes later when a player cut inside from the left before sending a low shot into the bottom corner.

Midway through the first half and Ashby should have retaken the lead when Michael Ellis received the ball inside the area and he set the chance up for George Carline but he blazed his shot over the bar and then minutes later the visitors made Ashby pay for their missed chances by taking the lead when a long ball forward beat the defence and the Earl Shilton player advanced towards goal before slotting into the net for 2-1.

It didn’t take long for Ashby to get back on level terms and just after the half hour it was 2-2 when Hunt went close to his second goal but his powerful effort struck the far post and the loose ball fell to Adam Rose who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Ashby fell asleep at the restart and within a minute they fell behind again when an opposition player beat numerous defenders before placing the ball past the keeper from close range to make it 3-2 at the break.

The second half started badly for the home side as just eight minutes in they fell further behind when the defence gave the ball away cheaply which left the Earl Shilton player with a simple finish beyond the keeper for 4-2 and it looked as if Ashby’s winless streak would continue.

But Ashby never gave up though and just like last week’s game against Sileby they battled to the end and in the final 30 minutes they deservedly turned the game around and in the 65th minute they pulled it back to 4-3 when Michael Ellis went on a run down the left and with the keeper rushing out of goal he lobbed the ball towards goal where Sam Kirk was waiting to put away the loose ball.

The best goal of the game brought the equaliser in the 74th minute when Kirk advanced down the right wing before sending over a dangerous cross which found Daniel James at the back post and he sent a powerful volley past the keeper and off the underside of the bar and into the net to level the scores at 4-4.

There only looked to be one winner as the match neared its conclusion with Ashby creating chance after chance and with three minutes remaining they took the lead when the ball fell to Carline just outside the area and his powerful shot took a deflection which took the ball away from the keeper and into the net.

And Ashby weren’t finish there and instead of hanging on to their lead they went and made sure of the points in stoppage time by adding a sixth goal when good work on the left by James resulted in a low cross into the area to Rose who fired home his second of the match to seal a well earned three points after another good performance.