Mad second-half spell proves costly as LR share spoils

Atherton LR boss Dave Jones says a mad 15-minute spell was the main reason their trip to Ashton Athletic on Saturday ended all square after a 3-3 draw.

It was a six-goal thriller in the NWCL Division One North in a game of bragging rights more than position gaining that saw LR take an early lead but need a stoppage-time penalty to claim a point.

The visitors were in front seven minutes in when a drive down the right was held in the corner by Dave Moore and George Chadwick before being played back to Alfie Walker who fired a deep cross to the far post which was then turned in by Brandon Dawson.

The match saw the first start for young Stockport County keeper, Billy Blake, since his return on loan and it was like he never left as he contributed some game-defining saves early in the game which denied the hosts an equaliser.

At the other end, Walker received the ball under pressure after 35 minutes and a bursting shot seemed to be heading into the net, but the ball whizzed just past the post as the half drew to a close.

After the break, Ashton showed what they were made when Jack Smith cut inside and buried a great goal to level the game.

It went from bad to worse for LR as only two minutes later, high pressure in their box allowed Smith to find open space to receive the ball and he smashed his second into the roof of the net.

Ashton’s tactic of high pressure allowed them to regain the ball and gift themselves an opportunity to make it three and after Blake pulled off a fantastic triple save, Ross Ellison placed Ashton’s third into the net on 64 minutes.

It was a frustrating opening to the second half for an LR side who had been relatively comfortable.

But they responded on 73 minutes when as a perfect through ball found Cal Hunter who snuck a goal back for LR and got the crowd going again.

Then, two minutes into added time, a challenge by the Ashton number One on Luke Nicholls gave LR a penalty which was dispatched fantastically by Hunter to raise his tally to 20 goals for the campaign.

After another dramatic penalty shout that was waved away by the referee, the final whistle blew and it ended all square.

Boss Jones said: “It was a funny game, I think people will look and say “3-3 what an entertaining game, end to end...” for me it just never really seemed to flow all afternoon.

“I thought we had a good start, but didn’t really build from that early goal and were quite wasteful in possession at moments in the first half.

“I just said to the lads, have awareness, play with the plan and we just didn’t quite have that in the first half.

“Second half, it was a mad 15-minute spell where Ashton took their goals really well, and we were quite passive.

“They had some really good moves. I thought today, their team was really fantastic. To see so many young lads on the pitch for both sides, was really good and both teams gave a great account of themselves.

LR are back in action tonight at Bacup Borough (8pm).