Linby beaten at Ashland Rovers in last game before lockdown

In front of a crowd of 102, LInby created more than enough chances to have got something out of the game.

But, in football, if you don’t take your chances, ultimately, you get punished, which is what the home side did.

On four mins, ex-Rovers captain Brad Newby, who made the move to Linby in September, swung in a lovely free kick, which found skipper Danny Tring, whose header went inches over the bar.

A well worked Linby move saw Sean Craven hit the post after a one-on-one with Piotr Strycharz on 16 minutes, before Tom Hilton then saw his follow-up effort cleared off the line.

Ben Jones headed over on 18 minutes after being picked out by Newby's corner, before he had a shot saved by Strycharz six minutes later.

Jones continued to have chances and he flicked a header narrowly over the bar on 30 minutes.

Ashland’s only chance of the half came on 33 mins, when Linby were caught on the break.

Liam Black was played in, but Jack Leverton made a fine save to deny the tall striker, before Oven Everton was denied by a great save.

The hosts took the lead on 59 minutes when Black headed home from a Jones free-kick.

Linby rolled the dice , in an attempt to get something from the game and brought on prolific reserves striker Travis Shooter, Tom Coupe, and ex-Eastwood Captain Greg Conn, for his Linby debut.

Tring headed wide from a corner on 72 minutes as Linby failed to find a way past the solid home back-line

LINE UP. Leverton, Jones, Tring, Finch, Thomas, James, Harrison, Everton, T.Hilton, Newby, Craven

Subs. T.Shooter( for Everton 52m) , Conn ( for Finch 60m), Coupe (for James 74m)

MAN OF THE MATCH … Jamie Thomas