Robins win Battle of Ashton

Report by David Robinson. Picture Jez Sayle

Ashton United finally got back to winning ways with a convincing victory at the Tameside Stadium for their first away win since September. With Liam Martin absent Casian Anghel was handed a start on the left with Liam Tomsett moving on to the right wing and Sam Sheridan taking up a more prominent role.
The Nash were first to threaten as a couple of corners saw a square pass lead to Mason Fawns’ on-target effort being deflected over. Fawns then curled another effort for an easy save after Ashton had given the ball away but on 13 minutes the visitors struck as James Jones’ long ball was flicked on by Sheridan to put Anghel clear and he kept his head to register his first goal for the club.
Aaron Chalmers then needed to come to the rescue as Fawns intercepted Josh Askew’s throw in and Askew’s pull back was next cleared by Daniel Shaw. On 26 minutes the hosts drew level as Morton just beat Anghel to a loose ball and the resulting free kick saw Fawns curl his effort home despite Pilling’s best efforts. Matty Chadwick was then fouled by McJannett 30 yards out and put the free kick just past the far post but Chadwick started the second half in the same vein as Hunt brought him down on the edge of the area in full flow and the winger fired home the dead ball off the inside of the post.

Jones was on hand to cut out Guest’s cross at the near post but the resulting corner saw the Robins pegged back again as a resulting scramble from the corner saw Shaw force the ball home. Liam Tomsett cut inside and forced a low save from Mason and Rowney’s pass found Brooke who clipped the far post with Pilling beaten. With the game wide open United broke quickly and Tomsett fed Chadwick whose cross was superbly controlled and finished in one movement by the advancing Askew.
Chadwick raced on to another loose ball and brought a decent save before he curled home his second free kick from similar range after Tomsett had been brought down. As the Nash tried to respond Wall’s effort from the edge of the area was palmed away and Rowney’s volleyed effort was held before the same player hit the bar after a great 1-2 with Wall forcing the rebound wide.

Team: Pilling, Chalmers, Askew (Crowther 86), Jones, Regan, Kay, Tomsett, Goulding, Chadwick (Howarth 86), Sheridan (Hill 64), Anghel. SNU: Roberts, Hendes.