ASHBY IVANHOE 1-1 SILEBY TOWN
LEICESTERSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 2011

Ashby Ivanhoe failed to sparkle in their Leicestershire Senior League clash against Sileby Town but a late stoppage time penalty by Phil Gibson rescued a late point.

Ashby had played the better football throughout the 90 minutes but as the match neared its conclusion it looked like they were heading for a disappointing defeat but in the 94th minute a long hopeful ball was played into the area and as player-manager Kev Allsop, on as a late substitute, jumped for the ball he was pushed to the ground resulting in the penalty which saw Gibson send the keeper the wrong way to level the scores.

The match had begun with Ashby on the front foot and they had a couple of early chances firstly when Jack Willars got onto the end of a pass but as he sent his shot towards goal the keeper rushed out to block and then a few minutes later a shot was narrowly past the post.

In the 16th minute Ashby had another spell where they should have opened the scoring when again Willars was involved when his header was headed off the line before another shot was forced behind for a corner and from that a header from a Ivanhoe defender went towards goal and brought out a full stretched save from the Sileby keeper to stop the ball finding the top corner.

Just after the half hour Ashby went close again when left back Russell Wagg sent the ball forwards to Mitch Poulton who then went on a long run before passing to Gibson inside the area and after bringing the ball under control he turned and shot towards the bottom corner but the keeper was there again to make the save.

Sileby had their best chance of the first half with eight minutes remaining when Ashby lost the ball cheaply in the centre of the pitch and when the ball was passed forward it left the striker to the right of goal and he sent a shot across goal which went just past the far post to leave the match goalless at the break.

After the break Ashby again had most of the possession but they were struggling to find a way past the Sileby keeper and when the ball did finally beat him in the 56th minute the crossbar came to his rescue after a rocket of a shot from long range by Poulton was heading for the net but after flying over the keeper the ball came crashing back of the bar.

Ashby continued to push forward looking for that elusive goal and that left them open at the back and the visitors capitalised on this with ten minutes of the match remaining when an Ashby attack broke down and a long ball forward saw Ashby looking for offside but the Sileby player had timed his run and he advanced forward before slotting past Noon for 1-0.

Ashby manager Kev Allsop then brought himself and his assistant Mark Smalley on in a bid to salvage something from the game and the late penalty drama saw the match end 1-1 which was a fair result to both teams.