Injury Time penalty denies Robins a point

Report by David Robinson

An injury time penalty grabbed a dramatic late winner for the Seasiders after Ashton had drawn level with just 3 minutes left at the Turnbull Ground. Simon Woodford was drafted in at right back as the Robins made a flying start after just 3 minutes as good progress down the left wing by John Pritchard saw Alex Johnson’s cross drop nicely for leading scorer Liam Tomsett to fire home putting the Robins ahead for the seventh time in 8 matches.

Jack Dyche then fired a snapshot just wide from Pritchard’s pass before at the other end Tymon was finally crowded out by Aaron Chalmers. Pritchard then put a cross too close to Bland but was proving a fruitful source of supply before a scrappy passage of play finished with Mark Lees’ shot being blocked for a corner. The hosts then started to threaten as Bythway’s free kick was deflected wide with Frith stranded and they found the equaliser after 36 minutes as Daniel McWilliams free kick from out wide saw Frith unable to reach the cross allowing Kieran Weledji to head into the empty net.

After the break Pritchard’s corner reached Chalmers at the back post whose effort was beaten away and Callum Martin then sped down the right wing but put his cross too far ahead of everyone. The hosts should have moved ahead on 65 minutes as Gell put in a cross which Weledji amazingly put wide from the penalty spot after Snaith had initially been flagged offside. Five minutes later and they did take the lead as Martin’s latest cross found the unmarked Tymon glancing his header home and Weledji then ran on to Martin’s through ball and appeared to be fouled by the oncoming Frith – after some deliberation Mr Ellis decided that a caution was sufficient with Bythway giving the keeper a routine save from the free kick.

With 7 minutes left Bythway could have settled matters but Tymon’s return pass in the area just failed to find him and sub Carson then almost capitalised on Chalmers’ short back header but with 3 minutes left on the clock Pritchard tried his luck from distance and saw the ball deflect into the opposite corner off McGoldrick. The action had still not finished as a corner into Ashton’s box saw an apparent push by Chalmers on Carson with the referee taking a moment to decide and it was the substitute who stepped up to confidently fire home the winner.

Team: Frith, Woodhouse, Pritchard, Granite, Chalmers, Platt, Lees, Tomsett, Dyche, Chadwick (Roberts 75), Johnson (Durnin 63) . SNU: Banim, Smith.