Dean Gets 3rd U-21 Cap

Last updated : 18 August 2004 By Site Staff
Dean Ashton
England took on their Ukraine counterparts at The Riverside Stadium and although Ashton missed out on a starting place, with Stead and Carlton Cole favoured, he still got 45 minutes to impress new U-21 manager Peter Taylor.

Nevertheless, by half time, England were two-nil up with Carlton Cole taking credit for both goals. It was a half dominated by England despite key players, like Michael Dawson and David Bentley, missing out through injury.

In the second half Dean Ashton came on but England went defensive, leaving Deano as a lone striker. Ofcourse he had little chance to do anything at all and only got a few touches of the ball before Ukraine made it 2-1 with a thunderbolt strike from 25 yards with three minutes left.

However, it was still enough time for substitute Darren Bent to get a goal. A Pennant cross was cleverly nodded into space by Deano for Peter Whittingham to send accross goal, leaving Bent with the easy task of getting a touch to guide it in.

Not the best, or busiest, of nights for Dean but Crewe can breave a sigh of relief that he didn't pick up any fresh injuries.