Ashes took on Pentland United at Ormlie on Wednesday night looking to pick up their first points of the campaign, but knowing this was always going to be a difficult task against last year’s league champions.  Ashes started the game well, defending solidly with some good saves from Graham Brown, whilst Stanley Ross and Robert Mackay also created some good chances at the other end.  Stabs took the lead after 20 minutes from a corner met by Martin Cook, but Ashes quickly bounced back and looked the more likely side to score the second goal, with a strike from Paul Malone that hit the bar, and a low strike from David Stockan which Michael Gray did well to steer past the post.  Stabs threatened to add to their lead just before the break with a series of corners, but Ashes eventually managed to clear their lines to go in at half time one goal down.  The second half continued in the same vein as the first, with some good opportunities at both ends, and some good football being played in midfield.  Ashes looked to have won a penalty on the hour mark when Mark Green was upended in the box, but the referee surprised everyone by allowing play to continue.  Ten minutes later, stabs had a similar claim for a penalty, and this time the referee pointed to the spot, and Brian Gray converted to make it 2-0.  Stabs rounded off the victory with a fine header across goal from Gavin Bremner which just beat Graham Brown, and the game finished 3-0. 

G. Brown, M. Macleod, A. Lannon, P. Macgregor (F. Mackay 60), A. Rutherford, D. Stockan, P. Malone, R. Allan, M. Green, S. Ross (I. Brown 75), R. Mackay (A. Macleod 70)

Monday night saw Ashes suffer their second defeat in as many games to Acks at Ormlie, going down 5-0.  Acks controlled most of the game, with the vast majority of the possession, but Ashes defended well for the most part, at the same time creating several opportunities at the other end, which they failed to convert.  Acks proved their quality with some fine passing, and excellent goals, deserving to win the game comfortably.  Ashes take a number of positives from the game though, with every player giving 100% right to the final whistle.  Our tough start to the league continues tomorrow night at Ormlie, when we take on last year's league champions Pentland United, kick-off 6:45.

G. Brown, M. Macleod, A. Lannon, P. Macgregor (F. Mackay 60), A. Rutherford, D. Stockan, P. Malone, R. Allan, M. Green, S. Ross (D. Munro 80), R. Mackay (I. Brown 70)

Ashes slumped to their heaviest ever defeat on Friday night at Castletown, going down 11-0.  The game started very evenly, with chances at both ends before Castletown made the breakthrough.  Ashes then had a strong penalty claim denied, the first of several 'contentious' decisions on the night.  Castletown then scored a second just before half time, moments after David Stockan had been scythed down at the edge of the Ashes penalty area, with the Ashes players somewhat bemused by the referee's decision to allow play to continue.  Castletown went in at the break 2-0 up, and minutes into the second half scored their third in what was almost a carbon-copy of their second, this time Paul Malone the victim of a harsh tackle, and no free kick.  Ashes knew it was not to be their night when captain Paul Malone received a second yellow card for a fairly innocuous challenge, leaving us with ten men for the majority of the second half.  This proved to be a hammer blow, as Castletown stepped up a gear, taking advantage of the extra man, peppering the Ashes goal for the rest of the game, and in the process scoring a further eight goals to win the game 11-0. 

G. Brown, M. Macleod, A. Lannon, P. Macgregor, I. Brown, D. Stockan (D. Munro 60), P. Malone , R. Allan, M. Green, S. Ross, R. Mackay (D. Keith 60)