Ashton bang on time for Hammers

DEAN ASHTON found his scoring boots in stoppage-time as West Ham squeezed past Plymouth and into the fourth round of the Carling Cup last night.

Coca-Cola Championship side Argyle held out for 91 minutes in the face of almost constant pressure at Upton Park.

But England hopeful Ashton, who swapped his white boots for a bright red pair at half-time, struck with a superb volley for his third goal since recovering from a broken ankle.

The outcome was harsh on Argyle, though, who had their moments with Barry Hayles, Peter Halmosi and Akos Buzsaky all giving the Hammers’ rearguard some sticky moments.

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley was finally able to give £7 million summer signing Scott Parker his debut, while Freddie Ljungberg made his first start since the opening day of the season.

Luis Boa Morte passed up the hosts’ first chance when he collected the ball from Carlton Cole and cut inside only to shoot weakly at Luke McCormick.

Ashton should have put the Hammers ahead in the 23rd minute when he collected Lucas Neill’s pass and turned superbly on the edge of the area, but drilled his shot narrowly wide.

Boa Morte then missed a gilt-edged chance to fire the Hammers ahead when he played a one-two with Hayden Mullins only to dink the ball over the advancing McCormick and wide.

Curbishley threw on young winger Kyel Reid in place of the battered Cole just after the hour mark, with Boa Morte joining Ashton up front.

Then Ashton grazed the top of the crossbar with a free-kick which took a heavy deflection off the wall and spun high into the air, before Bowyer sent a volley wide.

Bowyer headed Reid’s cross wide as the clock ticked down.

But in the 91st minute Reid sent over a low cross from the left which Ashton expertly volleyed across McCormick and into the corner of the net.

WEST HAM: Wright, Neill, Collins, Gabbidon, McCartney, Ljungberg (Bowyer 74), Parker (Noble 88), Mullins, Boa Morte, Ashton, Cole (Reid 63).

PLYMOUTH: McCormick, Connolly, Seip, Timar, Sawyer (Chadwick 90), Norris, Nalis, Buzsaky, Halmosi, Ebanks-Blake (Fallon 87), Hayles.

Ref: Phil Dowd