FC United keeper Sam Ashton showed his strikers how to do it by bagging the opening goal in their 4-0 Evo-Stik Premier romp at rock-bottom Retford.
The Rebels’ popular No1 took just three minutes to get on the scoresheet when his huge, wind-assisted clearance sailed over the head of opposing goalie Luke Herriott and into the net.
FC went on to complete a routine victory with further goals from Jerome Wright, Matty Wolfenden and Jake Cottrell.
But all talk after the game was about Ashton’s moment of magic, with the 24-year-old keeper cheekily insisting he’d intended to shoot.
See the goal below ...
(
Click here
to see the original, full-length video by Neil Boothman - neilboo on YouTube - which contains swearing)
Ashton, who once played up front in a cameo for Bolton, said: “I told the lads I only need one shot – I know where the net is.
“It was really windy, Scott McManus passed the ball back to me and I just wanted to get something on it because the pitch was awful.
“I made good contact and then thought “that’s going in” as the ball went over their keeper and rolled in the bottom corner.
“No-one can believe it. The lads are saying it was a fluke, but it wasn’t – I meant it!”
There was no such delight for Ashton United as their slide towards the drop-zone continued with a 6-3 home defeat to fellow strugglers Frickley.
The Hurst Cross Robins contributed to their own downfall with own-goals by Ben Smith and Ian Bennett plus the dismissal of skipper Craig Robinson.
A late Alastair Brown penalty secured Radcliffe a surprise 2-1 Evo-Stik North victory over neighbours Salford City.
Curzon Ashton lost further ground in the title race as they were held 1-1 at Witton Albion, while Mossley’s promotion battle with Warrington also finished all-square at 1-1.
What do you think? Have your say.

Comments
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If it was in the premiership it would have won goal of the season by a mile!
David Beckham, Xabi Alonso from inside their own half is nothing. This was from a couple of yards from the 6 yard box!!!!
Watch it on You Tube.
Much better than Pat Jennings goal and all the other goals scored by goalkeepers 'cos it was scored directly from a back pass and not from the goal keeper using his hands.
Their goalkeeper made a big howler in letting the ball bounce. We could see it was going in as soon as the wind got hold of it.
An easy win in trying conditions and on an awful pitch. Three wins on the bounce now and the play off positions are within touching distance!!!
Forza FCUM
Even though our league form has been patchy we've had some good things happen to us this season. The cup run, getting planning permission for TAL, passing the £1 million mark with the community shares....i suppose Sam scoring is another little thing to add to this list. You don't see those things too often at any level of football.
It's easy to score a goal in pub football, when the opposition goalie is a wheelie-bin!
I do not have any explanation of the sounds of 5 drunk persons chanting in the background on this clip. I was celebrating this goal for the fact it is proof that this is no substitute for real footie.
Italian supporters' movement gains momentum
The supporters’ trust movement is continuing to grow with three fans’ organisations being created in Italy, assisted by Supporters Direct.
Italian football has had more than its fair share of problems in recent years with match fixing scandals uncovered in 2006 and a year later the death of Lazio supporter Gabriele Sandri, who was shot by a policeman being extremely low points.
Not as widely reported though, is that over last summer 30 clubs in the country were barred from entry by their leagues due to severe financial difficulties and were relegated to lower divisions or forced out of existence altogether.
As we have seen in England, supporters’ trusts have risen from the depths of despair and a similar story is emerging in Italy. During the last few months, fans of SS Cavese 1919, FBC Unione Venezia, and US Ancona 1905 have provided a tangible response, a hint of hope, and a signal that something is changing in Italy.
With legal assistance from Supporters Direct, these groups chose to structure themselves as associations — democratic and not for profit organisations, which allow members to buy and own shares through the trusts.
They all aim to be involved in the running of their club, to be represented on the board, and in the end to become shareholders, as well as to be active in their communities and in social initiatives under their club colours.
The movement is still in its infancy but thanks to the internet it is growing, especially as more supporters begin to hear about what is being achieved elsewhere in Europe. In fact, fans of Venezia have cited FC United of Manchester as inspiring their rival.
The three trusts, which are now officially affiliated to Supporters Direct, are Venezia United, Sogno Cavese, Sosteniamolancona.
To read more about the trusts and much more buy the FC United versus Hucknall Town matchday programme this Saturday, priced £2.
FC United thrash Hucknall Town - full report
Jerome Wright, Matthew Wolfenden and Jake Cottrell were all on the score-sheet for the second week running as FC United thrashed Hucknall Town 4-1 at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon with Mike Norton also finding the back of the net.
The resurgent Reds made it four consecutive wins in 2011 to leap-frog their Nottinghamshire opponents in the Evo-Stik Premier Division as our bid for a place in the end of season play-offs continues to build momentum.
United are now just nine points short of the play-off places with games in hand on most of the top half of the league.
Coming into the game on the back of three straight victories, the Reds were clearly the more confident of the two teams and began looking for a goal straight from the off.
It only took five minutes for United to break the deadlock as Wolfenden broke down the right. A ball fired across the box missed all those on coming in the middle but as Wright played the ball back across the box Norton connected with it and put United into an early lead.
After this though the Reds seemed to get a little complacent and allowed Hucknall back into the game. They had a golden opportunity to equal the scores when Martin Parker left a ball from a corner; presumably thinking he heard a shout behind him, and captain Martin Ball fired over Sam Ashton’s goal from just yards out.
Hucknall were level after 25 minutes when they were awarded a corner which seemed to come off their player rather than Wright in the left corner. As is often the case with disputed decisions in football, Hucknall took full advantage as Joe Pheasant headed the ball home at the near post to level things up.
That seemed to provide the proverbial kick up the backside United needed and they got back to the way they were playing early on in the game and looked the more lively and indeed, more likely to get the game’s next goal.
Simon Carden went close when it looked easier to score than miss as the ball came to him unmarked in the box. But United’s record appearance maker put the ball well over the bar.
Having laid on the first for Norton, Wright grabbed his fourth goal in five games as he deafly chipped the ball over Hucknall ‘keeper Ross Whalin to give United the lead just minutes before the break.
The second-half began much in the same way the first ended with United looking to add the third goal that would kill the game. The Reds were looking particularly dangerous through Wolfenden and Wright as the two switched sides throughout the half.
Wolfenden went close when a nice one-two on the edge of the box was played back into him but he just fired over into the Manchester Road End. Moments later, Wright beat his man on the left and cut into the box but saw his low drive saved well by Whalin who got down quickly to keep the winger from getting his second.
But the third did come and Wolfenden was the scorer. After a ball into the box fell to him in space he took the goal coolly and calmly and gave United the two goal cushion they had been looking for.
The game was wrapped up when Jake Cottrell played a ball towards goal from about 30 yards out, ‘keeper Whalin thought defender Grant Brindley had it covered but Brindley missed the interception and left Whalin no time to react as United took an emphatic 4-1 lead.
Hucknall had their chances in the second half but United were the far better team and it was clear from early in the afternoon that the three points were simply Red.