Ashton registered just their second league win of the season as they got the better of a low scoring encounter at Hurst Cross with a moment of quality out of keeping with much of the rest of the game. With both teams averaging around a goal a game it was never likely to be a goal fest but the winning strike arrived just before the hour mark as Chris Baguley sprayed a fine pass out to the left wing for substitute Kayde Coppin who moved into the area and provided a fine left foot finish. Immediately afterwards a forward ball found Martin Pilkington beating the offside trap and as Sargeant advanced in the visitor’s goal his shot clipped the outside of the post.

In the first ever meeting between the teams the Yeltz started the brighter in the first half as Green cut inside before seeing his shot blocked whilst at the other end a fine pass from Coo found Matty Chadwick just failing to make sufficient contact in the area after which Pilkington thought he had put Ashton ahead from Coo’s fine cross but saw the effort ruled out by Mr Isherwood for an apparent handball. The visitors went closest when Thompson-Brown beat the offside trap but was denied by Josh Cook before a throw in reached the same player who was narrowly wide on the turn. Thompson-Brown was also in the action on the stroke of the interval as he put Lait into the area but his cross beyond Cook evaded everyone.

Ashton began to look far more threatening after Coppin replaced Phil Marsh and made inroads down the left wing with Pilkington a constant threat up front. Another fine ball from Baguley saw Pilkington just crowded out as Ashton raised their game before Thompson-Brown was back in on the act setting up Lait who sliced a deflected effort wide.

A short corner from Baguley then saw Coppin fire right across the area before Baguley won a free kick which he fired too high and Coppin then picked up a loose ball but saw his left foot effort go wide. Town continued to press for an equaliser and their last effort saw Hull’s goalbound effort blocked on the line by Gorton enabling the Robins to hold on to all 3 points.

Team: Cook, Coo, Pearson (Haslam), Gorton, Higgins, Young, Baguley, Gee, Marsh (Coppin), Pilkington & Chadwick (Bennett).
SNU: Robinson & Halford.