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The Ashton Community Cup – match report
Greater Manchester Police 4 – 3 Ashton
Youth Team
Both sides eagerly anticipated the tie following GMP’s dramatic 5-4 win
in the fixture last year.
Unfortunately, Dave Whelan, who was due to manage the police side, had
to pull out at the 11th hour but his absence did little to take the
shine off a great match that further harnessed relations between the
police and the youth of Ashton.
The game kicked off at 1.30pm in glorious sunshine on the excellent
Robin Park pitch.
Ashton Youth, managed by ex-Everton legend and Ashton resident Duncan
McKenzie, had most of the early pressure, pinning the GMP side into
their own half for much of the opening 10 minutes. However, the police
took the lead against the run of play after 15 minutes with their first
meaningful attack of the match.
Some good one touch passing in the middle of the pitch led to an
excellent pass being sprayed over 30 yards to an advancing John Mackey.
Having sprung the offside trap, Mackey took one touch and delivered a
cross to the front post. Striker Mike Watson managed to lose his
defender with some good movement and coolly glanced a header past the
advancing ‘keeper.
Ashton continued to press with good play down both flanks but GMP went
further ahead with a breakaway goal following an Ashton corner. With
nine players committed into the Ashton attack, a good clearing header
from the set piece was followed by a quick ball up to Julian Scott. He
evaded the remaining defenders with some good skills and slotted the
ball home to make it 2-0.
Ashton had a fantastic opportunity to get back into the game just before
the break but squandered it. Some good passing and movement down the
Ashton right led to a penalty following a foul in the box. With the
crowd silenced in anticipation Ashley Parrell stepped up, only to drag
the ball wide of the right hand post.
Ashton Youth began the second half in the same manner they had started
the match and within ten minutes of the kick-off were back on level
terms. Daniel Edwards reduced the deficit to 2-1, rounding off a neat
passage of play with a good strike, before Kris Prince struck following
an equally impressive move to make it 2-2.
However, the police were soon back in front. The referee awarded GMP a
free kick down the left hand side and Mark Schofield met an excellent
cross to the back post with a neat header to put the police 3-2 up.
But Ashton Youth refused to lie down and Daniel Edwards struck a second
to bring the match level once again. The goal set up a grand stand
finish with both sides giving everything for victory. In a carbon copy
of the finale to last year’s match the police struck at the death to
steal the game, Julian Scott scoring his second, GMP’s fourth and what
turned out to be the winner.
The result was cruel on Ashton Youth, especially having lost in similar
fashion last year, but the young side gave an excellent account of
themselves in a match that is all about building respect between young
people and the police.
Duncan McKenzie presented the Ashton Community Cup to GMP captain John
Mackey, while the Man of the Match Award went to Mark Schofield, but the
biggest winner on the day was the local community.
-ends-
For more information contact Angela Kirk, Young People’s Press
Officer for the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust,
on 01942 828923 or e-mail
A.Kirk@wlct.org
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