Villa Send Nomads On Their Way
Two goals from Shaun Parrington secured the three points for Ashville.
The weather was somewhat tropical when Ashville welcomed Cheadle Heath Nomads to the Ray Parker Stadium this weekend.
It was an evenly matched game until the 13th minute, when Dionicio Siboko Bohe nearly gave the visitors the lead. He won the ball in the box before turning and shooting, Dixon and the Villa defence putting their bodies in the way to prevent an early deficit.
A minute later and Ashville almost took the lead themselves, a corner finding Shaun Parrington at the back post. The strikers powerful header left Forde helpless but the Nomads keeper was saved by a defender in the line who cleared away 'Pagga's goal bound effort.
Lewis Willingham was the next to try and break the deadlock, the midfielder creating space well 25 yards out before fizzing a curling effort just over the Nomads goal.
A couple of minutes later however and Ashville did take the lead. A drinks break in October really is a strange sight but it didn't kill Parrington's momentum, the striker turning and rifling a low shot into the bottom right corner from 25 yards. A goal of this quality coined one fan to create the nickname 'Paggastuta' and its not hard to see why.
Cheadle threatened to equalise two minutes later when Dan Lewis was played in behind but the Cheadle striker couldn't keep his shot down.
With halftime approaching Ashville were looking for a killer punch to really take the wind out of the Nomads sails. Ben Greenop coming closest after a cross from Dulson was deflected into the Ashville top scorers path. Greenop flicked the ball goalwards but his effort went agonisingly inches wide.
In added time Nomads had their equaliser... Or did they?
Some clever work down the left saw a deflected cross loop over Dixon and left Lewis less than a yard out with no way of missing. Unfortunately for the Nomads striker he couldn't keep his left hand out of the way and it was this appendage which took the ball over the line. Up went the assistant's flag and the referee chalked the goal off for handball.
That decision lit a fire in Nomads however and they pushed hard for an equaliser that would count in the early stages of the second half.
Two dangerous free kicks in less than 10 minutes kept Dixon alert, the first one saved and the second one placed just wide.
On the verge of the hour mark Ashville thought they had a penalty when Player Of The Match, Connor Courtnell, danced through the Nomads defence before being hacked down as he lined up his shot just inches outside the area.
The free kick turned out pretty well for Villa, Haynes' curling effort hitting "Paggastuta" on the way through, wrong footing Forde and doubling Villa's lead.
Three minutes later and Morgan was running the tiring Nomads defence ragged. He beat several players on his way to goal, his low effort saved by the studs of Forde.
Dulson & Greenop would team up again with twenty minutes to go for two efforts just seconds apart. Dulson's strong run down the right culminating in a cross to Greenop who's goal bound effort was saved by Forde, the rebound eventually finding its way back to Dulson who headed down to Greenop again. The knock down had a little too much bounce on it for Greenop though and he struggled to control his poked effort, seeing it go wide.
The game looked sealed but Ashville wanted to make sure and with five minutes remaining Peter Morgan , beat his man before cutting inside and curling an effort towards the top corner, only to see it come off the post. The rebound fell to Parrington but he couldn't keep his volley down and the hat trick remained elusive.
With two minutes to go you would of been forgiven for thinking Ashville had signed prime Philipe Coutinho. The Aston Villa winger would of been proud of Peter Morgan's near perfect portrayal of him as the AAshville winger beat his man, cut inside and cuurled an effort towards goal. Unfortunately it didn't have the typical Coutinho-esque ending.
There would still be time for drama however. In the first minute of added time Shaun Farrall was judged to of brought down a Cheadle player in the box. It was a soft decision but Isaac Modi would step up and take full advantage to halve the deficit with a couple of minutes remaining in added time.
That would be the end of the scoring but there was still enough time left for more drama. Substitute, Louis White, was alleged to of kicked the ball away before using foul and abusive language in a matter of seconds. The referee, despite initially signalling a yellow card, would issue White with a straight red card. A bitter end to a sweet day for Ashville.
And so the full time whistle went, Ashville picking up the three points and climbing back up towards the playoff places.
There was still drama to come though as Assistant Manager, Ian White, was also given a red card, this one for dissent.
Finally, it really was over. Parrington's two goals enough to see Ashville take the win against a stubborn Cheadle Heath Nomads side.
Ashville are next in action on Monday night when they travel to Maine Road in the Edward Case Cup 1st Round before welcoming table topping Brocton to Ray Parker Stadium next weekend.
Tickets for the Brocton fixture are on sale now on the club website. Pay on the day also available.