LATE LOSS IS HARD TO TAKE

The goal came just ninety seconds after Oldland had dragged their way back into the game through Josh Dempsey after going behind to a Connor Biggins penalty. A disappointing day then for the O's who also saw Jordan Greenwood go off injured in the second half.

Wednesday night's loss at home to Devizes Town saw the visitors make five changes to their starting line up including a new keeper between the sticks. Reserve team goalie Ollie Fowler came in for his debut, releasing Josh Dempsey to play as a striker. New signing Jason Side was another to make his debut and there were also starting berths for David Stone, Gary Shorney and Sam Hippisley, all of whom had been on the bench in midweek. Tom Welling and Scott Robson were unavailable & Matt Curnock and Tyrone Fudgell were on the bench.

Most of Ashton's early play came down their left flank with two chances going wide early on and Greenwood getting in an important block on another shot. But the game lacked any real quality in the first half hour with two rain showers making for a skiddy pitch and making ball control tricky.

It was the 35th minute before Oldland had their first sight of goal; Dempsey flicked a header on for Shorney to bear down on goal before chipping his effort over the bar. Shorney then chased down a ball through from midfield, forcing the keeper to come out and head clear but Dempsey's attempted chip lacked power and the danger was cleared. Ryan Dunn then went close with a 25 yard low shot that the keeper pushed away.

Dempsey glanced a header wide early in the second half and Oldland had a warning on 49 minutes when Ashton "scored" but it was disallowed for a foul in the build up. Shorney again went close with a left foot shot on the angle but that warning wasn't heeded and the hosts took the lead on 55 minutes. Fowler brought down the Ashton striker in the box and Conor Biggins converted the spot kick to give his side the lead.

Ashton were well on top now and twice in a matter of seconds, Oldland had to clear off their line while another header went just over. The home side, playing down the slope, were clocking up the chances but at 1-0, Oldland were still in the game. Dempsey couldn't get any power on another header on 70 minutes and from a corner, Ashley Bernard's header was cleared off the line.

The breakthrough came on 87 minutes after a corner. The ball was cleared to Lewis Parker whose left footed deep cross found Dempsey who produced a superb diving header to earn his side what looked to be a valuable point.

However Ashton had other ideas and from the kick off, they forced a foul thirty yards out. The ball in was only cleared as far as Miles Hardidge who hit a sweet first time volley into the far corner of the net for 2-1.

Dempsey had one last chance from a corner but his header at the far post went wide and after six minutes of stoppage time, ref Ian Purchase put whistle to mouth to end a scruffy game that livened up after the break with three goals.

Next up for the O's is a long trip to Chard Town in midweek, kick off at 7.30pm. They will be looking to halt a run of three successive defeats in all competitions ahead of next weekend's visit of second placed Wellington.