Match Report - ST ROCH`S - 30 Jul 2018

Ashfield and St Roch`s served up an excellent 90 minutes on Monday night to a large crowd with St Roch`s getting the extra bonus point courtesy of a penalty shoot out win by 4-3. Ashfield held a minute`s silence for the late Jim Ross who served Ashfield so well as Club Treasurer for over 60 years. Both teams started the game on the front foot and it was the visitors who looked the more threatening, buoyed by their 3-1 victory at Petershill on Saturday. Both teams had made a number of changes as they prepare for the League campaign however it was the home side that made the breakthrough in the 20th minute with a well taken goal from Gavin Goodall. Ashfield stepped up a gear after that and Parker came close to increasing Ashfield`s lead as the `field went in 1-0 up at the interval. HT Ashfield 1 St Roch`s 0. The visitors backed by a large support pulled the game level with a 25 yard drive which cannoned off the underside of the bar and over the line however St Roch`s did not have much time to enjoy being level as the `field went ahead shortly after following a corner which was headed across goal finding Billy Stevenson who turned the ball into the net. The game ebbed and flowed after that and Gary McLenaghan pulled off a tremendous save to keep the `field ahead however with 7 minutes left on the clock he could do nothing to prevent a 20 yard free-kick hitting the top corner of the net. Both teams had chances before Referee brought proceedings to a close and onto penalties. It was the `Candy Rock`that secured the bonus point after Hadden and Parker missed for Ashfield. FT Ashfield 2 St Roch`s 2 (St Roch`s won 4-3 on Penalties).