BAGULEY WONDER STRIKE SEALS 3-1 VICTORY FOR THE ROBINS

ASHTON UTD 3 V BUXTON 1
EVOSTIK PREMIER LEAGUE @ HURST CROSS
2 JANUARY 2016 --- 3PM

HURST CROSS HOME OF ASHTON UTD FC

Two goals in 2 second half minutes including a superb free kick from Chris Baguley tied up this victory for Evostik December club of the month Ashton Utd.  Following the Hurst Cross based clubs award there is always a fear of an immediate loss but this was not to be after a half time lead was cancelled out by Greg Young's header for Buxton The Robins marched on after the introduction of an inspiring cameo performance by substitute Martin Pilkington.

TURNSTILE ENTRANCE 'READ ALL ABOUT IT'

The evening before saw planning surround, once again, the weather and the blog had to echo one NWCL sides twitter feed that simply read 'not again', yes heavy rain had again brought an hourly check of the BBC weather forecast.  Amazingly the Manchester area was showing a lot drier forecast than the east side of the country so with Ashton Utd being a new ground and a club I had endeavoured to visit since our encounter with them in a pre season friendly at Brighouse the decision was made.
We opted to leave base station and with a change in Sheffield for the all stopping service and a departure of bumpy train at Bredbury by The Rising Sun, somewhere we have failed to visit yet this season.  The back up was a second visit to the 3g at Stockport Town but when we set off this morning Ashton Utd's excellent Twitter feed, other clubs take note, signalled 'game on'. 

BUMPY TRAIN 142 PACER UNIT PROBABLY RELATED TO BUMPY DOG OF NODDY FAME

The blog had craftily built in an hour to the day and having arrived in Bredbury we discussed the option of an hour round Ashton Under Lyne or a nip up to Woodley for a Taylors fish and chip restaurant sample!  Guess which one won..............................Ashton town centre looked nice on arrival especially after a plate full of Taylors which was as ever excellent will served by the fantastic staff!

TAYLORS FISH AND CHIPS MORE ON THE BLOG THAN THE FOOTY

Stagecoach 330 took us to Ashton via Hyde and Dukinfield before we alighted to drop onto a First Bus to Hurst Cross, the 331 is a town service but the bus ticket had an interesting start and end destination of Ashton all for £1.50, needless to say we did move.
Onwards then on a mini tour of the streets and estates of Ashton Under Lyne and its suburbs and as soon as I was comfortable we were going the right way I could relax for the last 100 yards of the journey!

EXTERNAL VIEW OF THE THEATRE OF DREAMS THAT IS HURST CROSS

Departing just after a busy crossroads we made a quick departure to check out Bradley's Pie shop which will sadly have to wait for another day they were still shut following the Christmas holidays, they reputedly do some cracking pork pies a return to sample will be a must.

BACK OF THE NET

As the environs of Surrey St offered up Ashton Utd we entered the social club for a small lemonade and friendly chat outside with a taxi company owner following Buxton ensued.  The club house is a snug, warm and relaxing area a fantastic asset for the local area. 

CLUB CREST AT THE SOCIAL CLUB

Just after 2pm the turnstiles were open and we received a friendly greeting before purchasing our match day programmes.  We were inside the theatre of dreams for The Robins how the heck do you describe a ground like this?  Proper ground, providing proper football with more character than you could shake many a stick at!

THE ALL IMPORTANT SNACK BAR TERRACE

The blog normally offers a description but this may not do it justice as you probably have to visit there are so many nooks and crannies and anomalies in this ground its just wonderful and cannot be done justice here.  But here goes with the blogs effort to the right of out entry is a raised crush barrier terrace with snack bar that was already well in business, to the side a toilet block and tucked up at the side of the stand the club shop pleasantly operated today and Mick made sure he obtained a few gifts.  The main stand is next just creeping either side of the half way line but with depth to it, to the front are the two dug outs.  There is a small scoreboard above the tunnel and as we pass through to the far side the social club has an enclosed terrace before raising to a decked area with hospitality at the rear. 

CLEAR VIEW OF HARTSHEAD PIKE, TODAY

To get to behind the far goal which offers, beyond it, a fine view of the South Pennines and Hartshead Pike and its tower.  Here we have a terrace that is raised but slopes away to the far corner to descend to pitch level, a small stand at the rear is in the form of an inflated bike stand.  The far corner offers an old fashioned 'soak away' gents toilet of which their is another one at the end of the next stand.  We did sample the facilities to avoid half time queues at the main WC, handily the wall is fairly low that you can still watch the game and have a visit, although the wall is not as low as that at Ossett Albion were modesty nearly comes into question.

STANDING PROUD 4 IN A ROW THE FAR SIDE STAND AND FLOODLIGHTS

This far touchline stand is a 3/4 length covered stepped terrace and then as we move to behind the entrance goal a steep terrace with small cover to the rear offers a commanding view of proceedings.  I would want to visit here many more times if the opportunity arises as I was spoilt for choice in places to view the game from there really are that many interesting spots all offering good views.  Add to this the wonderful old style floodlights with 4 down either side and a collection of lights on each.

ARTISTICALLY[?] POSED FOR, MRS WRIGHT AND MR HERE TO SUPPORT SON MYLES

The first people we met were Buxton's goalkeeper, sub today, Myles Wright's parents who we had previously met while he was with Chesterfields Academy FC when they used Clay Cross Town FC's Mill Lane ground.  Thanks to them today for coming up and having a chat I would have hated to have not acknowledged them, it was good to see you again and hope to see you soon hopefully Myles will continue to progress well!

A VIEW OF THE TOWN END TERRACING

Mick had gone off to make some new friends from Ashton Utd and Buxton and later announced what a friendly lot they were and he had enjoyed meeting, including Phil Brennan from the excellent non league magazine.  So we arrived at kick off and with a slightly late arrival by the officials and players onto the pitch we then had a further delay when referee Gooch advised the home side he needed more tape on the town end nets, I'm never sure why they don't do a little check of these things when they esteemed officials are warming up before the encounter.

Buxton started the game well and were pushing Ashton back and on 14 minutes Bradley Barraclough fed Liam Hardy whose shot was straight at the well positioned Paul Phillips in the home goal.  It was Ashton who took the lead four minutes later with Chris Baguley floating in a corner for Jason Gorton to ghost in unmarked to put a powerful header past Matthew Glennon in the Buxton goal.

Ashton really should have extended their lead to 3-0 before half time with both chances falling to Eddie Toner first an open goal that saw a defender get a diving interception to stop his shot and then a first tome effort in a good position 10 yards out that flashed wide.

PAUL PHILLIPS, ASHTON KEEPER, 'IT'S MINE'

Half time arrived with the narrowest of leads for Ashton and they would have to be alert in the second half a Niall Doran effort came back off a post on 64 minutes for The Robins before Buxton equalised a minute later when Greg Young, Buxton captain, powered in a header similar to his counterpart for Ashton in the first half.

All square and all to play for just, before the goal centre forward Martin Pilkington was introduced to the game and straight away his pacey runs were proving a threat to the Buxton defence non more so that a rasping shot from the edge of the box that Glennon did well to push over.  He had given the home side an extra impetuous and so it was when two goals in a minute wrapped the game up for The Robins. 

On 69 minutes a corner off the right was headed in by Stephen Mason with the visiting keeper looking as though he had been fouled and then a superb winner worth the admission money alone a free kick 25 yards out slightly to the right saw Baguley curl in an exquisite strike into the left hand top corner.  A wonderful goal that knocked the stuffing out of the Buxton challenge who could probably count themselves a little unlucky to be two goals adrift.


NIALL DORAN ON THE ATTACK FOR BUXTON

Time was played out without any further problems for both keepers and on the final whistle a small dash to the bus stop 100 yards away soon had us on board the 231 back to Ashton bus station before a quick connection, again, onto the 330 to Bredbury station.  It was a relief to say the service was on time and we had just a ten minute wait for the train which was a blessing in so far as we would be at base station at 7.30pm, so once again The Rising Sun would have to wait for a visit this season.

LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION

A packed train emitted travellers at varying stops through the peak district including many Man Utd fans who had won bust missed an excellent day out at Hurst Cross that saw the home side drive on in their Evostik Premier League challenge.

TODAYS NON LEAGUE DOG [BUXTON FC] IS NOT REALLY BOTHERED ABOUT THE GAME HE
 IS JUST OUT FOR THE FRESH AIR

A cracking day with a steady game of football in a ground full of character and characters, thoroughly enjoyed.

ASHTON UTD FANS ENGROSSED IN PROCEEDINGS