NEWS ARCHIVE
Ashes were officially relegated on Thursday night following a comprehensive 5-0 defeat at the hands of Wick Rovers. This proved to be the final nail in the coffin following CAFA's decision to reject our appeal against the decision to dock three points from us for failing to field a team against the Stabs, despite the fact that unfortunate circumstances meant that we were desperately short of players for the game. We could be forgiven for feeling aggrieved at the decision, given that a precedent was set two years ago when, in identical circumstances a team escaped without reprimand.
Ashes kept their survival hopes alive last night with a 3-2 victory over Lybster at Ormlie. We started the game well, creating some good opportunities, but Lybster took the lead against the run of play after ten minutes. However, Ashes struck back shortly after with a low strike from David Stockan. This was shortly followed by a well worked move created by Terry Cannop and finished by Danny Jack to put us 2-1 up, a lead which we sustained to half time. One minute into the second half, Stanley Ross added a third with a high, looping shot with beat Lybster's keeper and went in the top left hand corner. Lybster then struck back with a well worked move which caught us on our heels to make bring the deficit back to one goal. We then went on to dominate the remainder of the game, creating some gilt-edged opportunities, some of which seemed easier to score than to miss, but we couldn't covnert them, so the final score remained at 3-2.
We suffered our second defeat at the hands of John o' Groats this the season on Wednesday night, going down 3-1 at Ormlie. the visitors started the brighter, going close on several occasions, and eventually broke the deadlock after 20 minutes from a header by Sean Henstridge. However, five minutes later, Stanley Ross levelled the scores with a good finish from a well worked move. We thought we were going to go in level at the break, but the referee had other ideas, adding fully six minutes of injury time to a half which had seen few stoppages. Groats regained the lead through Martin Sinclair five minutes into injury time to go in 2-1 up. Soon after the restart Groats thought they had extended their lead when a Sinclair header hit the back of the net, but it was disallowed for offside. However, within five minutes Sinclair hit his second to complete the scoring.
After victory against Castletown on Thursday night, we were brought back down to earth with a bump on Monday night with a 9-0 defeat at the hands of league leaders, Acks. Again desperately short of players, we were forced to play without seven first team regulars, and with no substitutes. To make matters worse, Marc Keith suffered an injury mid-way through the first half, but had to play on because we had no replacements. However, this does not detract from the performance of Acks, who played some excellent passing football and were in control of the game from start to finish. Going in at half time 5-0 down, the game plan from then on was one of damage limitation. However, we started the second half well, creating one or two opportunities, the closest of which was a shot from the edge of the area by David Stockan, which struck the inside of the post and rebounded across the face of the goal, but no-one was there to force in the rebound. Acks went on to score a further four goals in the second half, and in the end the only consolation we can take from the game is that we kept the score down to single figures. Our next game is against Mid-County at Ormlie in the Eain MacIntosh Cup, kick-off 7:15.
Ashes confirmed on Thursday night that this is the week of the underdog, with a deserved 1-0 victory over third-placed side Casltetown. We looked a totally different side to the team that was on the end of an 11-0 pasting to Castletown at the start of the season, challenging well for the ball in midfield and defending solidly, whilst also creating a number of very good goalscoring opportunities. Robert Mackay got his fourth goal of the season early in the first half when he got on the end of a good move and finished well. This victory takes us off the bottom of the table, with our next game a tough away match against Acks on Monday night, kick-off 7:30.
We were once again forced to field a makeshift side against Wick Groats on Friday night due to the absence of six regulars. On the positive side though, we welcomed back Kevin Byrne who has been missing for almost a year due to work commitments and we also had ex-Cowdenbeath man David Mowat filling in for us at centre back. We also welcomed Steven Prince and Stuart Bremner to the squad for the trip to Wick. The game started disastrously for Ashes with Groats scoring within five minutes and then getting a second ten minutes later. We then lost both Keith brothers David and Marc through injury, although there was a rumour that they wanted to get home before the chippie shut! We came back into the game well however, and looked to have pulled one back when Marc Keith hit a scorcher from 25 yards out which hit the under-side of the bar and bounced back, clearly well over the goal line. However, the referee disagreed with Ashes pleas and didn't give the goal. Just before half time, Peter Macgregor finished off a well worked move and got one back for us to make the score 2-1. The second half saw Ashes dominate play, hitting the woodwork on at least three occasions, and creating several other good opportunities which we just couldn't finish. Ten minutes from time Ashes won a free kick on the edge of the box, which David Mowat took and calmly slotted the ball past the outside of the Groats wall and into the net to level the game at 2-2. Groats had a good chance to steal all three points in the dying seconds when they looked to be clean through on goals, but Mike Macleod got back well and made a crucial challenge to ensure that we got a point from the game.
Ashes crashed out of the Highland Amateur Cup on Saturday afternoon after a very close game against Wick Thistle, going down 2-1. Ashes opened the scoring courtesy of a well-worked move, clinically finished by Mark Green. Thistle equalised late in the first half when a ball driven across the Ashes goal was met by a Thistle player who converted the chance. The second half saw some good football and chances at both ends, and when it looked like the tie was heading for a replay, it was settled five minutes from time by a goal worthy of winning any match, struck from 25 yards, which sailed into the roof of the net.
Ashes lost 2-0 away to John o' Groats on Wednesday night in a game from which we felt we were very unlucky not to come away with at least a point. We created some good chances in the game, but failed to apply the finishing touch, as has been the case in several games this season. Groats' first goal came courtesy of a cross which found it's way over goalkeeper Graham Brown and into the back of the net, and their second came late in the second half, when Groats broke through the Ashes defence, with our players expecting the referee to blow for offside.
Ashes will face last season's top three teams in their first three matches this season, starting away to Castletown on Friday night, kick-off 6:45. Our next two fixtures are Acks and Pentland United, both at home on Monday 18th and Wednesday 20th respectively.
We've played four of our Thurso and District League matches in the last couple of weeks, with two victories (9-2 and 3-1) over Thurso Thistle, a 1-1 draw with Mid-County and a 4-1 win over Top Joes.
Ashes were presented with a new set of strips last Monday night courtesy of Cable Solutions of Aberdeen. Thanks to Danny Jack for arranging this, as well as donating a new first aid kit out of his own pocket.
In recent weeks Ashes have received the blow that both Ian Brown and Graham Brown, two of last year's most solid performers are moving on to pastures new. On behalf of everyone at the club, I'd like to thank them for all their efforts, and wish them all the best for the future.
Ashes finished the Sevens season in second place, narrowly missing out on the title by a single point to Sharks. This sees us promoted back up to the top flight after a single season in the Division Two. The final sevens action of the season took place on Saturday 26th February with the Bain and Wade Memorial Cup and the RWE Nukem Cup up for grabs. Ashes made it to the Quarter Finals without playing a single game with Rolls Royce Blues pulling out. This meant that defeat would see us out of both cups after only a single match. And of course, that's exactly what happened, as we went down to the narrowest of defeats, 1-0 to Pentland, who went on to win the Bain and Wade Memorial Cup, with Strokes picking up the RWE Nukem Cup.
Ashes are holding a pub quiz this Friday night (11th March) in the Weigh Inn, starting at 7:30. Entry is £2 per team member, with a maximum of 4 to a team. For more details see here.
Our title aspirations took a blow last week when we could only draw 0-0 with Shadwell Town, when three points were essential to keep pace with Sharks who are on fire at the moment, having only dropped two points in their last eight games.
Ashes met league leaders Sharks for the second time of the season on Thursday night, and as in the first encounter, the two sides could not be separated. In an end to end encounter with some great football played by both sides, a draw was probably a fair result, with the final score 4-4. Ashes goals came courtesy of Alan Tait, Ian Brown, Graham Brown and an own goal.
Ashes almost shot themselves in the foot against John O’Groats but held on to claim the vital three points as Groats fought gamely to get something from the match. Alan Tait was the architect for the first goal, his cross being turned home by Marc Keith for the opener. Tait then was fed by Peter McGregor and made no mistake to make it 2 nil. Paul Malone made it three as Ashes threatened to run riot. Groats team talk must have worked at half time as they came roaring back into the match and Derek Campbell threw them a life line after 30 minutes. Darren Oag then made it 3-2 and game on as Groats peppered the Ashes defence. Ashes had to thank keeper Malky Ness for a couple of late saves as Ashes held on.
Ashes secured victory over Rolls Royce Reds with a 4-1 win, mainly courtesy of our constabulary contingent aka PCs Brown. Ian Brown got the opener with a shot which took several deflections before landing in the net. Our elevens keeper, Graham Brown displayed the breadth of his talents, grabbing the second with a cracking cross that somehow found its way into the back of the net, to take us into half time 2-0 up! Reds quickly got one back after the break courtesy of Matthew Mackay, but Ashes then had several good chances to extend their lead, and eventually did with two goals within a minute, from David Stockan and Ian Brown with his second of the night. The final score of 4-1 takes us to 2nd in the league on goal difference with half the season gone. Next week sees Ashes taking a break, with the next fixture a week on Thursday against Groats at 7:30.
Ashes suffered their second consecutive defeat on Thursday night, losing 5-4 to Antarctic Thistle. We continued our run of starting games badly, going in at half time 3-1 down, and then coming back into the match in the second half. With two minutes to go, Peter MacGregor levelled the scores at 4-4 with a controverial goal that looked like it hadn't crossed the line. We then pushed forward trying to get the winning goal, but left ourselves open at the back, allowing Antarctic in to snatch the winner with 30 seconds left on the clock. Ashes' goalscorers on the night were Alan Tait with a brace, and one apiece for David Stockan and Peter MacGregor.
Ashes suffered their second defeat of the season on Thursday night going down 3-1 to Rolls Royce Blues. All the scoring was done and dusted by half time, with Dougie Mackay once again on the scoresheet for The Ashes. The second half was a more closely contested affair, with plenty of chances created at both ends. Towards the end of the game tempers on both sides became frayed, probably not least due to the horizontal hail, and both teams had a players sent off near the end of the match, with Ashes losing their goalkeeper Derek Manson. Our next game is at 7:30 on Thursday night against Anarctic Thistle.
Ashes were involved in a classic sevens football match on Thursday night against Seaview, with no fewer than 18 goals scored between the two sides. The final scoreline of 12-6 to Ashes doesn't reflect the fact that the game was very closely contested up until the last 15 minutes, with Seaview 4-3 up at half time. However, nine second half goals from Ashes ensured victory and took us to equal top in the second division title race, with a game in hand over Sharks. For the record Ashes' goalscorers on the night were Dougie Mackay with six, David Stockan and Peter MacGregor with two apiece, and a goal each for Ian Brown and Alan Tait. Our next game is at 6:30 on Thursday night against Rolls Royce Blues.
Ashes beat league leaders Shadwell Town in a nine goal thriller on Thursday night ending up 5-4 winners. Two goals from Mark Green and two from David Stockan plus one from Dougie Mackay were enough to secure victory in what was a very closely contested encounter. Our next game is at 8:30 on Thursday night against Seaview.
Since the last update we've had our annual end of season player of the year dinner, which was held in the Weigh Inn, and a great night was had by all (some more so than others!). A big thank you to the Weigh Inn staff for providing us with excellent food. The prize winners on the night were as follows:
Sevens
Referees' player of the year - Paul Reid
Players' player of the year - Stanley Ross/Paul Malone
Elevens
Top Scorer – Stanley Ross
Players’ player of the year – Peter McGregor/Ian Brown
Player of the year – Paul Malone
Young Player of the year – Marc Keith
Chairman’s Award – Danny Jack