MARYHILL FOOTBALL CLUB

WOSFL Result: Ashfield FC 0-8 Maryhill FC

Date: Saturday, August 9th 2025

Venue: Stepford Football Centre

Maryhill FC manager Mark Young named 5 changes to his side from last weekend and they delivered an emphatic response with a relentless performance at a windy Stepford Park on Saturday afternoon. 8 goals from 6 different scorers saw the ‘Hill record a first win, and first clean sheet, of the season to bounce back from defeat.

A bright start saw Connor Hamilton played in behind the Ashfield defence only to be hauled down within the opening 5 minutes of the contest. Despite Maryhill appeals for a red, the defender saw yellow on this occasion. Hamilton delivered the ultimate punishment by curling the resulting free-kick into the bottom corner of the Ashfield net to set the ‘Hill on their way.

Despite playing against the wind, the ‘Hill adopted a high defensive line and looked to play the game in the opposition half. The early pressure yielded further dividends when Mario Pacitti’s free-kick from the left flank was met by the head of Jay Shields and his header was diverted to the Ashfield net to extend the Maryhill lead to 2-0 with just 18 minutes on the clock.

Within 2 minutes of conceding a second, Ashfield’s hopes of getting back into the game were dealt a major blow when central defender Iain Begg received his marching orders for taking Hamilton down on the edge of the box when the Maryhill marksman attempted to get in behind the home defence once again. Hamilton’s movement causing all sorts of problems across the ‘Field’s back line but on this occasion, his free-kick flashed narrowly wide of the far post.

The Maryhill attack continued, now with a player extra, and they put themselves in a commanding position with 25 minutes on the clock. Baxter’s ball from the byline on the right flank found Logan Dempsey arriving in the Ashfield penalty area. The midfielder saw his initial attempt blocked but collected the rebound before firing the ball past the Ashfield ‘keeper to extend his side’s lead to 3-0.

Hamilton and Baxter threatened to inflict further damage before the break but the home defence managed to keep them at bay meaning that the sides went into the interval separated by 3 goals.

The teams changed ends for the second half and the wind changed to a cross-field direction, making playing conditions difficult once the ball left the ground. 

Maryhill enjoyed a strong start to the half with Jamie Wright and his back four giving nothing away in defence while driving their teammates forward at every opportunity. Jordan Duffy began to find room down the left flank early in the half and the skipper seized on the opportunity to deliver a number of dangerous crosses into the ‘Field penalty area. First, Baxter arrived at the back post to volley an attempt on target from a Duffy cross followed shortly by Hamilton heading over the bar from the same source.

Shortly after the hour mark, Baxter put the contest beyond doubt when he received a pass from Jordan Hood, turned his marker at the edge of the Ashfield penalty area and curled a low effort into the bottom corner of the net to make it 4-0 to the visitors to the delight of the Maryhill faithful.

Dempsey added his 2nd, and his team’s 5th, goal of the game just 7 minutes later with a first-time finish inside the penalty area following a perfectly weighted pass from Shields.

Hood looked to get in on the act when he ran onto Hamilton’s flicked pass only to see his effort come back off the Ashfield upright.

Hamilton bagged his brace shortly afterwards when he collected Mina’s pass just inside the Ashfield half and found himself one v one with a lone defender. The striker managed to create a yard of space for himself before hammering the ball to the Ashfield net from the edge of the penalty area.

It was one of those days for Maryhill where they looked dangerous every time they sent men forward and were able to stretch the home defence seemingly at will. Nathan Marriott was sprung from the bench and he opened his Maryhill account when he headed home following a cross from fellow substitute, Logan Hunter. 

Hunter had the final say when he cut in from the right flank to unleash a fierce left-footed drive from 30 yards that rested in the Ashfield net shortly before the final whistle sounded to bring an end to proceedings. 

Thank you to Ashfield for their excellent hospitality and, as always, thanks to the travelling support who turned out to back the team.

Next weekend we welcome Caley Locos to Lochburn Park for our first home game of the season.

MOTM: Logan Dempsey (sponsored by Maryhill FC Media Team).

Maryhill FC: Wright, Carmichael, Lauchlan, Pacitti, Duffy (C), Baxter (62’ Mina), Shields (76’ O’ Brien), Dempsey (69’ Hunter), Imrie, Hood (76’ Marriott), Hamilton (76’ Skinner).