Ashton Prime 1-2 Hawkenbury III

After Prime's 3 match winning run ended with a below par performance against Dowgate in midweek, there were 4 changes to the Prime starting lineup.

Skovborg-Hansen and Goldsmith returned up front, Walsh returned in central midfield and Barnham slotted in at left-back.

The game started in bizarre fashion as hesitation in the Hawks backline enabled Goldsmith the space to hit a snap-shot which the keeper easily held.

Straight away, the Hawks went down the other end and from a dangerous right-wing cross, Gilbert unluckily sliced into his own net, with less than a minute on the clock.

Prime heads did not drop though and although the visitors looked dangerous, Barnham and Barker in particular made excellent last-gasp tackles and Mellors made a couple of superb saves.

Prime started to find their feet and soon found themselves on level terms. Maszka released Skovborg-Hansen down the right and the striker hit a blockbusting shot from an acute angle, which the keeper could only parry, and from the rebound Goldsmith just beat Goulding to the ball to smash home the leveller.

Prime were suddenly dominating, and nearly took the lead when a long throw was flicked on and the Hawks centre-back was lucky to see his back-header loop over the bar, with the keeper stranded.

From a Prime corner, the ball was cleared as far as the impressive Barnham, whose 30 yarder fizzed over the bar.

But at the other end, Prime were themselves undone from a corner which was forced across the line from close range with Mellors again stranded.

Prime started the second half heading uphill and facing an uphill task to get back into the game.

But again the league strugglers competed well and pushed back their high-flying opponents.

Slowly though, the Hawks took control and applied pressure, but Barker and Gilbert produced superb tackles to keep them at bay, and when they were eventually breached, Mellors produced two stunning saves in quick succession to keep Prime in it.

As French replaced Barnham at left-back, it seemed as if Prime might yet get the equaliser that their battling performance deserved.

The industrious Walsh for once found space in the heart of a congested midfield, and his slide-rule pass released Skovborg-Hansen who tried to square for the advancing Maszka, but mis-kicked at the vital moment.

Prime still had their chances and Goldsmith curled a free-kick towards the top corner, but the keeper saved comfortably.

Prime threw the kitchen sink at the Hawks in the closing moments, but despite a barrage of long throws and free-kicks played into the box, the visitors held on.

Man of the Match: Mellors - Superb saves from the stricken keeper