Ashton continued their rather unpredictable form of late but were still good enough to take all 3 points from their visit to Keys Park on Non League day.

Home winger Woolfe’s free kick after 2 minutes reached Harvey who shot wide on the turn, these 2 players were to feature in much of the action with Woolfe the home side’s most effective forward. With 10 minutes gone Mulholland picked up a loose ball and advanced into the area and played in Lynch whose effort was blocked, the rebound falling to Mulholland who screwed his effort wide.

A quick break by the visitors then saw Mark Peers get clear down the right wing but his pass inside to Tom Baker was dragged well wide of the target. With 20 minutes on the clock Woolfe and Harvey combined again as a fine cross from the former should have been converted but was glanced wide of goal and the home side were made to pay 5 minutes later as Baker’s forward pass brought a poor clearance from the home defence and Aaron Burns curled home a fine left foot effort for his 50th goal in Ashton’s colours.

Burns didn’t have to wait long to register again as a lightning quick break saw Baker release sub Kosylo who combined with Mulholland to reach the byline and fire in a cross which was converted by the stooping Burns despite the best efforts of Crane. The half ended with 7 mins of injury time following several stoppages which allowed time for Lennon to find space in the area and fire in a left foot effort which was held by Phillips.

The Pitmen had certainly dug themselves a hole but set about doing something about it after the interval and a goalmouth scramble in the visitors’ penalty area saw the ball cleared from near the goal line. 5 mins later sub Osborne made a good run to the byline and put a cross right across the area before it was converted by fellow substitute Disney.

Woolfe’s cross to the near post was then headed over by Harvey and the same pair combined shortly afterwards as a free kick saw Harvey put his header straight at Phillips when anywhere else would surely have brought the equaliser. Ashton brought on substitute Ben Deegan to hold the ball up and relieve some of the mounting pressure but it was the danger man Woolfe who came closest as he cut inside and fired a 25 yard effort straight at the keeper.

Deegan’s persistence then got him to the byline but his pull back to Kosylo was blocked and Johnson’s resulting chip drifted wide. Ashton were able to then run down the clock which included another 5 mins of added time to secure a vital victory and one which reads very well when looking at the league table.

Team; Phillips, Frost, Caldecott, Beattie,Robinson, Lynch, Peers (Kosylo), Baker, Burns (Baguley), Mulholland(Deegan), Johnson. SNU: Burke, Harrop.