Saturday 10th May 2008 Evards Division One
Ashby Ivanhoe Reserves 7-2 FC Braunstone Victoria
Braunstone Victoria had twice failed to turn up for this fixture and after being comprehensively dismantled by a rampant Ivanhoe side they probably wished they'd given the game a miss for the 3rd time ! Ashby went at the visitors from the start and took the lead after 6 minutes. A powerful run brushing past 3 defenders on the left by Jon Shum ended with a cut back to allow Richard Hanslow to tap home from close range. However the visitors hit back with a stunning 25 yard half volley from Kyle Robinson which flew past keeper Noon. Ashby reclaimed the lead after 28 minutes with a carbon copy of their first goal. This time Debney released Adelukan and he drove to the by line on the right before cutting the ball back to Hanslow for another neat finish. Dow then had an effort deflected wide before Hanslow completed his hat trick right on half time. A neat exchange of passes involving Dow & Muir found Hanslow in the box and he curled the ball home to seal an impressive first half performance. The 2nd half saw Ashby attacking their favoured Shed End and with the home fans expecting more goals. However it was Braunstone who opened the scoring with another brilliant goal from Robinson, this time it was a cool chip from 25 yards that found the top corner. That was the last threat from the visitors and Ashby turned up the heat on a sweltering afternoon. Muir rounded the keeper but saw his effort cleared off the line then Dow set up the same player again but this time Muir's shot was scrambled away and from the resulting corner a Braunstone defended hit a clearance against his own post. Gibson then replaced Shum and he immediately set up Fisher who thumped home a terrific first time drive from 20 yards. It was now a siege with home players queuing up to score and Ashby 5th came when again Gibson's tireless work ended with a pinpoint cross to Muir who was already grinning before smashing a volley home from 10 yards Muir then replayed the compliment to Gibson by setting up his 26th and easiest of the season. Muir then crowned an effervescent display with a charging run into the box that could only be stopped by a shirt pull and Karl Hollis stepped up to coolly convert his first of the season. This left Mitch Poulton as the only outfield player not to score this season and but for his team mates desperate efforts to get him a goal this would have surely been double figures. A great display in the Hood Park sunshine to end a record breaking season for Ashby Ivanhoe.This avenged one of only 3 league defeats this season and at the end of the game the champagne corks were popped as promotion to Senior League Premier Division was celebrated.