Pendle Athletic 2–1 Wigston FC: Ashmore's late intervention

Opinion

Pendle Athletic have a habit of making things difficult for themselves. For eighty-three minutes on Saturday 8 August, they looked content to settle for a draw against Wigston FC. It was a standard display of nervous efficiency (if you can call it that), featuring the kind of tentative passing that suggests the players are slightly afraid of the ball.

Then Stewart Ashmore decided to intervene in the 84th minute. He scored the winner, ensuring Pendle took all three points and spared the supporters the walk back to the car park in a state of quiet resignation. It was a decisive strike, though likely assisted by the fact that the Wigston defence had seemingly decided the match was already over.

The goal transforms a dull afternoon into a victory. It is a dangerous precedent to set, of course. Relying on a late surge from Ashmore is not a sustainable tactical blueprint, but it is a comforting one. He is, for the moment, one for the future.

The table remains a crowded affair at the top, with Jesmond AFC holding the lead. Pendle are not in that conversation yet, but they are moving in the right direction. They have very little time to reset before the next matchday. One hopes Ashmore can find the net before the 84th minute tomorrow, if only to save everyone the blood pressure spike.