Carluke Rovers 0 Ashfield 4

What an excellent week for the Ashfield Team which started with a tough opening encounter at the John Cumming Stadium on Saturday 4th August in the sunshine against a very spirited and determined Carluke Rovers. The opening exchanges were played at great pace with neither team giving an inch and after the home side put the `field under some initial pressure from set pieces, it was the visitors that began to assert themselves with some terrific balls played in from the flanks coupled with the industry of Friel and Giblin in the Midfield area. On the half hour mark Michael Giblin hit the outside of the post from 22 yards directly from a free-kick and following that an inch perfect cross was played to the far post which was met by Hearton however on this occasion he was thwarted by the Rovers Keeper however the `field did not have to wait long to get ahead. Ashfield Captain Ciaran Friel was played through and although his effort took out the Goalkeeper, it deflected off the Carluke No 2 and into the corner of the net to the delight of the travelling supporters. 8 Minutes later and Keigan Parker worked his magic down the right hand side before delivering an inch perfect cross to Hearton who this time bulleted his header past the despairing reach of the Carluke Keeper. A really well worked goal.

HT:- Carluke Rovers 0 Ashfield 2. The second half opened brightly with the home side trying to work up a head of steam however the `field continually broke down their moves and broke with pace and it came as no surprise when Man of the Match Keigan Parker picked the ball up 25 yards out and after evading a couple of defenders drove the ball low and hard into the back of the net. This effectively finished the home side`s resistance ,who hadn`t played that badly, but were up against a very clinical Ashfield team and this was reinforced with 6 minutes left on the clock. A lovely sweeping move saw the ball played across the box and after being dummied it fell nicely for an onrushing Jordan Lynch who lashed the ball into the roof of the net and ensure the `field would top the League on the opening day of the Season. A really promising start to the Season for the `field.

FT:- Carluke Rovers 0 Ashfield 4