Smash and Grab

Ashton suffered their third consecutive home reverse and missed the chance to secure a play-off place as the visitors grabbed all 3 points with a late winner at a chilly Hurst Cross. The action opened with Liam Brownhill cutting inside before sending a rising effort over the bar and James Dean’s lay back was then hit straight at Mitchell by Will Haining. Martin Pilkington’s knock down was then helped wide by Dean after which Gary Gee’s chip into the area saw Pilkington just denied by right back Jacob Simpson.

After an instantly forgettable first half the action picked up after the interval as Scott Allison hooked a ball back from the by-line which reached Conor Tinnion who saw loud penalty appeals against Cavell Coo waved away.
Immediately Mark Lees fed Paul Marshall at the other end and his 20 yard effort came crashing back off the crossbar and Marshall then threatened again as he prodded his shot wide after a 1-2 with Martin Pilkington. Lees’ cross to the near post then saw Pilkington just denied and Will Haining headed Liam Brownhill’s corner onto the roof of the net and a cross reached James Dean with him lashing just wide of the target. Marshall then guided Dean’s knockdown straight into Mitchell’s arms before Pilkington was guilty of a glaring miss as a quick break saw Dean’s pass set him up 6 yards out.

With 10 minutes remaining a long ball from the back saw Brownhill under hit a headed back pass allowing Allison to poke the ball home completely against the run of play and Joseph McGee could have made matters even worse as he put his effort wide after Gareth Arnison had played him clean through the middle. For all their efforts the Robins could not find the equaliser as Chris Baguley’s diagonal pass picked out Matty Chadwick who fired over from the angle. With two games remaining there is still everything to play for as two wins will secure Ashton’s play off place for the third season in a row.

Team: Phillips, Coo, Brownhill, Gorton, Mason, Haining, Marshall (Chadwick), Gee, Pilkington, Dean (Morning), Lees (Baguley). SNU: Lindfield, Frost