With little to cheer about in the league...Dudsey's hoping that Staveley's previous form in the FA Vase would re-appear at Inkersall Road this afternoon. I'm pretty sure there isn't going to be many more Saturday afternoon's like today in 2013, ridiculously warm with a real summer feel about it.With the turmoil of last season out of the way, the task of rebuilding a squad able of competing in the Ncel Premier Division isn't something you can conjure up overnight, but on this afternoon's showing things are heading in the right direction for Chairman...Terry Damms and Manager Neil Cluxton.
As any Step 5 outfit would, both Staveley and Ashton Athletic would both welcome the financial benefits of a good run in the Vase, the additional funds can impact greatly on how the season pans out come next May.
There's a few new faces in the Staveley side since I took a look at them pre-season, Jordan Turner who showed great promise in Shirebrook Town's friendlies now partners the very lively Jonathan Wafula, boosted by the towering figure of Nathan Benger offering some great support play.
An evenly matched start to the game came to an abrupt end as Jas Colliver gifted the ball to Ashton's Ryan Small who made no mistake in capitalising upon his good fortune, beating Laurence Matthewson from close range with seven minutes on the clock.
Despite the shock of conceding so early on in the game, Staveley pressed on from the re-start with Josh Scully running the right-flank and causing the visitors a heap of trouble. Turner and Wafula looked dangerous on every break, a constant supply of decent balls in from Scully, Matt Thorpe and Benger gave the front pairing plenty to work with and Turner quickly squared the game within five minutes of Ashton's opener from Jamie Smith`s inch perfect pass.
Scully and Wafula's wide play had the visitor's on the back foot but there seems to be far too much space for Ashton's quick footed No11... Adam Howard, who soon became the chosen route in for the visitors given the amount of room he his creating for himself out on the left wing but after his initial mistake, Colliver and Smith seem to be coping well in defence.
Staveley continued to look dangerous on every break and even though Turner get's caught out with the off-side flag on a few occasions it was a matter of time before he managed to sneak in unhindered behind Paul Casey off Scully's excellent through ball which allows him to cut in and beat Steve Dryden from a decent angle...ten minutes after his first goal.
Whilst the remainder of the half looked to be in Staveley`s control, Ashton didn`t look as though another goal was beyond them and it remained tightly balanced up until the interval, 2-1at half-time.
If there`s ever a good time to get a goal, the opening minutes of the second half for me is as good a time as any and that`s how the second half started for the home-side. A scything tackle just outside the area gave Josh Scully the opportunity to take a pop at Dryden`s goal from an ideally positioned free-kick, with a decent run in from the left of ball, he produces a peach of an in-swinger which nestles into the top right hand corner...3-1.
High on confidence, Staveley continued to stroll into Ashton`s half, usually down the left via Wafula and Turner. With the game seemingly over as far as the visitors were concerned an off the ball incident resulted in a bit of a Melee as players from both sides dived in. Three Red cards are produced by Mr Munday resulting in Ashton`s Edwards and Casey along with Staveley`s Jake Vernon taking an early shower.
At 3-1 up and with an extra pair of legs you would have thought it would be a stroll to the finishing line for Staveley...far from it..!! For whatever reason the punch-up seems to have given the visitors a new lease of life and after several decent breaks from Howard and Connor Anderson from wide-out left and a series of corners they manage to pull another goal back off of Ryan Small`s head from the set piece.
With a nerve twitching fifteen minutes left to the final whistle, Staveley manage to hold the opposition off and get to the final whistle a goal to the good and with eight hundred quid in the bank.!!
Over the ninety minutes Staveley looked good for the win although Ashton gave it their all after the Melee and could have grabbed a late equaliser. Going forward..I think Mssr`s Turner, Wafula and Scully will no doubt be giving a few more sides the run-around.
My Man of the Match - Hard to call given the talent going forward for Staveley today and an excellent performance by Skipper...Jamie Smith, but for his two well taken goals...it has to be Jordan Turner..!!
Click here for Match Pictures
Teams - Staveley Mw : Matthewson, Hague, Trench, Scully, Colliver, Beatson, Smith (c), Thorpe, Benger, Turner, Wafula. Subs : Damms, Vernon, Foyle, Nightingale, Butt.
Ashton Athletic : Dryden, Edwards, Casey, Wood, Rolands, Latham (c), Lawrence-Forbes,Kay, Small, Anderson, Howard. Subs : Hull, Burbidge, Gallaway, Green, Holden
Attendance - 116
Admission - £5
Good luck to Staveley in the next round of the FA Vase and to Ashton Athletic for the remainder of their season.
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