ASHBY IVANHOE RESERVES 3-1 ROTHLEY IMPERIAL RESERVES
LEICESTERSHIRE COMBINATION DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY 2012

Ashby Ivanhoe Reserves returned to winning ways in the Leicestershire Combination as they overcame Rothley Imperial Reserves 3-1 after Daniel James netted a second half double to follow up Michael Ellis’ first half effort.

Both sides started the match at the wrong end of the table with Ashby in 12th place and Rothley a couple of places lower but it was Ashby who started the match much the better side and they were passing the ball around well looking to create an opening and they went close to scoring when a through ball found Sam Kirk with just the keeper to beat but the shot was saved before the loose ball was struck against the corner of post and crossbar.

With the next attack Ashby went in front when Kirk was involved again when he received the ball on the right and from the edge of the area he played a low ball into the area and after an initial shot was blocked the loose ball fell to Michael Ellis and he fired his shot into the top corner.

Ashby continued to play the better football and although they were getting the ball into the final third they couldn’t add to their tally as they were failing to shoot when in sight of goal and Rothley managed to nip in and clear the ball and they even failed to scored a second ten minutes before half time when they were awarded a penalty but when Adam Rose stepped up he sent his effort over the bar.

Rothley did have a number of half chances in the first half and they found themselves behind the Ashby defence on a couple of occasions but the defence did well to clear the danger but in the 39th minute the visitors did draw level when a free kick midway inside the Ashby half was played into the area and the resulting shot found the bottom corner to send the teams in at the break all square.

In the second half it was Ashby who created the best chances and they went close a couple of times with shots which went just past the post before they took the lead in the 69th minute when the Rothley keeper failed to claim the ball at the near post and the loose ball was picked up by Daniel James and after taking the ball past a player he sent his shot into the back of the net for
2-1.

It got better for Ashby five minutes later when a long ball forward saw James in the clear down the left and he ran onto the ball before advancing towards goal and then he struck a powerful low shot through the keeper’s legs and into the far corner.

In the final ten minutes Ashby could have further increased their lead but Sam Kirk saw another chance saved by the keeper but the points were already secured after a thoroughly deserving victory and with another home match against bottom of the table Saffron Dynamo next weekend Ashby will look to make it a second successive win.