Unstuck at Ashton

Ashton United 2-1 FC United
Unibond League Premier; attendance 1,561
I wanted to go by train, 10 minutes from Manchester Victoria. But the Biffa herself pointed out the faff of getting to the station and then to the ground. Then she started checking out Ikea online as there is a big store in Ashton-under-Lyne. The short of it we went by car and Ikea was a joke, thankfully. Looking at flat pack furniture on a Saturday with a lot of a people with nothing going on in their life except the pursuit of consumerism. Went to Lily's Vegetarian restaurant instead and sampled some South Indian delights - sev puri and uttapham for me, bel puri and marsala dhosa for the Biffa. Excellent scoff and under £15 for the two us. Pics.

Ashton United have the oldest ground in Greater Manchester at Hurst Cross. Football started here in 1878. It has two covered stands, some terraces, two refreshment huts and crowd barriers. Couldn't spot any Victorian toilets just those portable ones as at festivals. Plenty of flags flying including a large Canadian one - you can sponsor them said the programme.

The football was good stuff. Pity we lost but it was going to be hard to score against a very organised Ashton defence with four across the back. We let in some soft goals. Winning the ball back inside the penalty area then getting it taken off you just outside is careless. FC United came closest with two shots that hit the post, and one that rolled slowly just wide after their goalie was beaten. Pulled one back in the 90th minute, and with four minutes added time it made for a thrilling finish pushing for the equaliser.

In all, a good day out but bitterly cold with an iced breeze swirling around.
Game 59; admission £8, programme £2, raffle ticket £1