End to end game ends in spoils shared

United went into the game on the back of two straight wins and in the best form of our season so far but the vistors also boasted very good form sitting second in the form table form the previous six games. United could have been boosted by the fact that the 51 goal strike partnership of Sam Grouse (suspended) and Jordan Wilson (departed to Bromsgrove Sporting) were not present in the Ashby squad but it was the visitors that started the more promising out of the two sides. Early claims for penalty were waved away by the referee much to the anger of the away side 15 minutes in as the returning Emmanuel Williams felled an Ashby forward while through on goal. Two wrongs do not make a right but the visitors arguably got what they deserved for their positive start as the resulting corner was claimed by John Acton only for a visiting defender to bundle the ball out his hands and into the net in a decision that surprised most in attendance including the visiting bench. In quick succession United could have found themselves further behind as Ashby created the best of the opportunities in the opening 25 minutes.

However a resilient united stood firm and began to get themselves into the game as Liam Trewartha showed promise on the edge of the visitors box before he was felled. Similar instances followed down the right of United attacking line with Liam Taylor and Elliot Lee before a break through was found. Taylor's through ball forward found Lee who jinked his way past 2 defenders and squaring for Rifat Ata to finish on his left side under the keeper. This spurred United into gear as Lee was set through one v one with the Ashby stopper who brought him down to thwart the attack before Liam Walton and Josh Garrington both had good efforts blocked by a dogged Ahsby backline to send both side in level at the break.

Half Time: Shawbuy United 1-1 Ashby Ivanhoe

The second half quickly became a very open afair with chances at both ends before the visiting side had the ball in the net. Fortunately for United the fine strike from the visiting forward was chaulked off for offside. There were good chances at both ends of the pitch as the side saw 1 or 2 chances flashed high or wide of Acton's goal as Taylor hit the outside of the post for United with 15 minutes to go. However the talking point of the half came when Ata and an Ashby defender found themsleves on the floor in the box, both in need of treatment as the referee awarded an Ashby freekick and waved away strong claims by the home side for a penalty. Late chances fell to Trewartha from distance and a barrage of late corners from the away side but neither side could find a way to secure all three points.

Full Time: Shawbury United 1-1 Ashby Ivanhoe

United travel to AFC Bridgnorth on Monday 27th December in the final fixture of 2021.