Ashton maintained their position in the top half dozen of the Evostik Premier Division with a comfortable victory in South Yorkshire. Given the prevailing weather it was no surprise to see a heavy pitch which didn’t make for a flowing game but it was a player returning to the Robins’ fold who ultimately settled the issue – Chris Baguley netting a goal in each half.

There were only 7 minutes on the clock when Dale Johnson held the ball up before playing in Matty Chadwick whose cross was easily converted by Baguley from inside the 6 yard area to open the scoring. As Frickley attempted to get back into the game a through ball picked out Allott who steadied himself before firing over, and then a long ball back into the area was squeezed passed Phillips by Allott but cleared from near the goal line by stand-in full back Steve Halford. With the home side’s main threat coming via the aerial route it was no surprise that the closest they came to an equaliser just before the break was from a swinging corner which saw Villermann’s header cleared off the line by a combination of Ashley Young and joint manager Halford.

After the interval Kayde Coppin won the ball in midfield and passed to Chadwick who sent his left foot effort curling wide before Baguley blotted his copybook for the afternoon with a booking for simulation. Chadwick then made a good run from halfway before his pass to Johnson was just cut out by Jeffs before the home side’s most effective forward Allott cut inside and played a defence splitting pass which saw Paczkowski only denied at the last by Phillips.

Baguley was soon contributing in a more positive fashion as he picked up Johnson’s lay off and cut across the edge of the penalty area before providing an emphatic right foot finish. Chadwick then had a clear run from halfway before slicing wide of the far post before he saw a fierce left foot shot from the edge of the area beaten away by Simpson. Chadwick was to have his revenge shortly afterwards however as he was brought down by the keeper correctly resulting in a red card and the hosts finished with only 9 men as Allott was also dismissed after a fierce challenge on Pearson.
Team: Phillips, Halford, (Rick) Pearson, Lynch, Higgins, Young, Chadwick, Gee, Baguley, (O,Neill) Johnson, Coppin (Evangelinos). SNU: Ellison, Pilkington.