A depleted Ashton Prime side took on Woodlands Reserves at what is quickly becoming fortress Colebrook. With former manager Goldsmith, captain Abu and stalwart Excell all unavailable, Sykes’ team picked itself.

With players short on the ground Siekanka was asked to start and despite his braced knee and a regular a kicking from Woodlands goliath Keith he completed 90 minutes and was influential in securing the victory for The Numbers.

Reece Overy returned to the club after a number of seasons away and he made a rusty start when he watched a low drive from outside the box nestle into the bottom corner giving Woodlands an early lead after just 5 minutes. Skipper for the day Cary issued his battle cry of ‘come on lads’ and Prime battled away against the passing outfit of Woodlands.

Henshall and Taylor in the middle started to gain a better understanding and when they combined with Buckland and Taylor whipped a cross in for Sykes to volley straight at the keeper. Cary then hit the bar from the resulting corner with a looping header and later on clipped the bar with another looping hook.

Despite the pressure Prime were putting on the opponents, Woodlands were the better team and the pressure paid off when they sneaked a 2nd goal before half time, despite the best efforts of the returning Overy who pulled of a number of saves and had done very well to keep them to just the couple of goals.

Prime began the second half kicking up the Colebrook slope and had talked about hassling and not giving Woodlands time on the ball. The three in the middle of Siekanka, Henshall and Taylor gave Woodlands midfield less time on the ball and were spreading the ball out wide to Buckland and Sykes who were giving Woodlands full backs a torrid time.

Sykes forced a good save from Woodlands goalkeeper when he drove from 20 yards it looked destined for the top corner. From the resulting corner, Henshall floated the corner onto Sykes’ head, who had leapt like a salmon to make it 2-1.

This gave Prime great impetus however they lost concentration and Woodlands quickly replied to make it 1-3. Despite this Prime kept hassling the midfield and when another corner was won by Ferguson, the Henshall-Sykes combo worked again for Tom Buckland to bundle it into the goal unknowingly and run away celebrating making it 2-3.

The front 2 of Woodlands old boy Ferguson and Siekanka were battling and chasing everything down resulting in Jarek playing a square ball and Sykes with time on the ball picked his spot from 20 yards and lashed it home off the post. 3-3 and Prime were flying.

Santos then replaced the hardworking Buckland on the right wing and was guided though the final 10 minutes by the experienced Davis at right back.

Ex-Prime keeper Gary Latter in the Woodlands goal riled Ferguson by labelling him a dickhead which was more than enough incentive for the front two to combine again and win a penalty which Sykes smashed down the middle to claim his hat-trick.

The back four of Cary, Williams, Davis and Barnham held strong and despite a late scare of Woodlands one on one which was put wide, the final whistle blew and Prime had once again beaten Woodlands in the league in a hard fought game.

A great result leaving Prime unbeaten in 2 games and 4th in the League on goal difference. Attention moves to the cup this week with the Numbers hoping to secure a result in a competition that has proven difficult in recent years.