Ash's top dozen!

Ashley Ainsworth

BARDSLEY-based plasterer Ashley Ainsworth is the new Oldham Sunday League king of the hot-shots!

That's because deadly Horseshoe striker Ainsworth (23) bagged an incredible TWELVE goals as his side thumped Old Bank 16-3 in the Division One fixture.

It proved to be an incredible weekend for goals, with 76 being scored across just eight games in the two divisions.

Ainsworth's 12-goal haul smashes the league's individual record, which was only equalled in September when Oddies 14's Mervyn Davies matched Paul Buckley's 11-goal salvo in a 20-0 win against, ironically, Old Bank.

An understandably proud Ainsworth told the Chronicle: "I was aware of the 11-goal record so as soon as I got my 12th in the 80th minute I asked to be substituted. I was knackered.

"I am proud of myself of course, but to be honest I could have scored a lot more.

"I reckon I could have scored 20, but credit to the Old Bank goalkeeper, he had a really good game I thought.

"I'm up to about 50 goals for the season already now (Ainsworth admitted he doesn't keep records) so that's not bad before Christmas."

Former Fitton Hill player Ainsworth has little experience of playing the game he loves at any higher level than Sunday League.

Through his good friend Joe Heap, he once secured a 'trial' run-out at Evo-Stik League side Mossley, but suffered a bad injury a few days before and was never invited back when he recovered.

So were there any of the 12 goals particularly special? There was a cheeky one which Ainsworth appears to be quite proud of.

He added: "I smacked one into the top left corner of the net with my left foot, then scored my 12th goal with a right-footer into the top right corner.

"I enjoyed one earlier goal, though. I took it round the goalkeeper, dragged the ball back then flicked it over him."

Two goals each from Daniel Jackson and Gareth Maznyczencko completed Horseshoe's tally against Old Bank.

More Ahsley pictures here