Robins win hard-fought encounter

Ashton’s final home match of the season saw them all but secure their play-off place with a hard fought win over their visitors from Cheshire. With goalkeeper Carnell injured Josh Ollerenshaw was between the sticks for the hosts and there was an early scare as Sam Sheridan’s loose pass out of defence saw Nathan Cotterell’s cross just cut out at the near post by the returning Josh Granite. Liam Tomsett’s lob then saw Troy Bourne’s backheader needing to be helped over by Boney.
On 6 minutes Ashton made the breakthrough as Sheridan’s long pass saw Tomsett’s header have just enough power to beat Myles Boney’s attempted save. Midway through the half Tobias Mullarkey strode forward for the Dabbers but fired straight at Ollerenshaw and Daniel Mooney’s near post cross saw Tomsett just denied by Boney.
6 minutes before the break and Casper Hughes’ free kick saw a clear header missed but in attempting to clear Tomsett bundled the ball over the line for an own goal equaliser. Hughes’ shot was then blocked to Jamie Morgan who guided his effort just too high but on the stroke of the interval Nic Evangelinos was fouled just outside the area by Joel Stair with Sheridan curling the free kick home.

After the break good work by Mooney saw Tomsett curl his effort just wide and Tomsett’s flick then put Mooney clear and his first time lob came back off the inside of the post – the 20th time this season that the woodwork has denied the Robins. Morgan then had a clear run from halfway but was denied by Ollerenshaw and Alex Johnson’s effort was just squeezed off the line after Nicky Platt had won the ball.
Cotterell’s cross then found its way into Ollerenshaw’s arms and Jordan Cole steered a loose ball over the top as Ashton held on to their vital lead. The hosts could have made matters secure with time running out as Sheridan forced a save from a narrow angle as play continued despite Johnson being down injured.

Team : Ollerenshaw. Dom Smalley, Baines, Granite, Chalmers, Sheridan, Platt, Tomsett (Roberts 73), Dyche, Mooney (Pritchard 80), Evangelinos (Johnson 64). SNU: Woodford, Chadwick.