ASHVILLE went into Saturday’s huge clash against Eccleshall needing a good response after suffering three defeats in less than a week, conceding 11 goals in the process whilst not registering a single one of their own.

They welcomed Eccleshall to an extremely windy Ray Parker Stadium knowing that anything but defeat would leave their fate in their own hands going into the final week of the season.

Villa started brightly and almost took the lead after 14 minutes when Ben Greenop found Joe Dulson in space inside the box. The young winger saw the ball get stuck under his feet on the boggy pitch and it gave William Blease enough time to close Dulson down and the Eccleshall keeper made a good stop spreading himself to prevent Dulson from finding the back of the net.

The gale-like conditions provided a challenge for both teams as they tried to control the game - one Villa clearance even boomeranged back on itself before drifting out for a throw in, much to the crowd's amusement.

Greenop was causing Eccleshall plenty of problems and on 25 minutes he was fed through by Josh Maldon but the ball got caught up in the mud and Greenop adjusted quickly to play Ben Glover in behind, his strike partner was quickly closed down by the defence and subsequently fired his effort high and wide.

Ashville wasted no time in creating another chance, this time Ben Glover being the recipient of a poor clearance by Blease. The striker played on an overlapping Gary Jones who chipped a cross into the back post, the headed clearance didn’t even make it out of the box and instead fell perfectly into the path of Dulson who took it first time and put it over the bar.

It would take Eccleshall 34 minutes to create their first real chance of the game, Daniel Shelley trying a very speculative effort from 30 yards, pulling it well wide of Ebbrell’s goal.

On the stroke of half time Ashville put together arguably their best team move of the season which saw almost every player touch the ball as they moved it from back to front and 16 passes later Glover played Dulson in through the middle, the winger didn’t get his desired touch on the ball and saw it run through to Blease. It would of been some goal had he managed to finish it off and surely a goal of the season contender, especially given the conditions. It was also a sign of the quality that Ashville do possess but has been all too lacking over recent months.

The sides went into the break level, Ashville edging a closely fought first half by both teams.

The game would turn on its head straight out of the gate in the second half with Eccleshall taking a shock lead just a minute after the restart. A fizzing long ball found Daniel Shelley who had split the Ashville centre halves and was bearing down on goal. The ball got stuck under his feet allowing Farrall time to retreat but the Eccy midfielder twisted Farrall both ways before slotting a composed finish beyond the outstretched leg of Ebbrell.

The early second half chaos wouldn’t end there though as it took Ashville only seven minutes to draw level. A clearance found Glover who turned his man to the sight of three of his teammates flying forwards towards goal. The outnumbered Eccleshall defence didn’t know who to track and Glover played it to the far side for Greenop. Greenop carried the ball into the area being closely followed by an Eccy defender. The striker cut back inside before firing a shot off which was well blocked. The rebound fell kindly however and Greenop took this chance to chip the ball over to Dulson who was left unmarked between two Eccleshall defenders and headed home into a largely unguarded net. It was a well deserved goal for Joe who has really stepped up his performances of late.

It would take Ashville only ten minutes to flip the script once again. Once again Greenop was at the heart of the move, flicking the ball in from a throw in which saw Maldon beat the flat footed Eccleshall defence before deftly lifting the ball over Blease and into the back of the net to give Ashville a well deserved lead.

Eccleshall looked to have brought the scores back level after 69 minutes when Harry Baggaley latched onto a looping clearance before cutting inside and fizzing a low drive towards the bottom corner but Ebbrell got down superbly to tip it round the post for a corner.

Eccy would have their equaliser just three minutes later. A corner wasn’t properly dealt with by Villa and the follow up cross found Jack Warren with acres of space at the back post before he duly fired it into the back of the net to set up a tense final quarter of the game.

Neither side really swayed the game their way in the remaining minutes but there would be one last moment of drama when Shaun Parrington saw red for a second yellow card in the dying embers.

The final whistle soon blew and capped off an enthralling game which both sides can come away from with their heads held high.

A draw being a fair result on the day, it now leaves Ashville just one point away from securing safety in the NWCFL First Division South. That point could come against the very side that currently holds the final relegation spot, Market Drayton Town, when they visit Ray Parker Stadium on Tuesday evening in an 8pm kick off. Tickets for that fixture can be bought online at ashvillefc.com/tickets with Pay On The Day also available.