Avenue too strong at Hurst Cross

Report by David Robinson. Picture Jez Sayle

Ashton were made to pay for not converting early chances as the visitors from West Yorkshire proved too strong in the end with 2 second half goals. With Craig Hobson available again up front the Robins made the better start and Kallum Mantack was just denied by a last-ditch tackle from Connor Dimaio’s layoff. Matt Regan then put Hobson clear in the area with his cross reaching no-one and another dangerous cross needed to be cleared by Nicky Clee. On 24 minutes Liam Goulding made a good run forward and the ball reached Ryan Jennings whose volleyed cross saw Regan’s floated header come back off the crossbar with Andrew well beaten.
Mantack’s forward pass then found Jennings failing to connect properly and Mantack himself steered wide having outrun the defence onto Dimaio’s pass. Bradford’s best chance of the half saw Macauley Langstaff slicing Jamie Spencer’s ball wide at the far post and Langstaff’s deflected effort needed to be tipped over by McMahon after Oliver Crowley had miscued.

After the break Luke Ashworth made an important interception ahead of Jake Beesley and Spencer sent an effort skimming wide from Conor Branson’s layoff. Ashton keeper George McMahon was then called on to make a couple of decent saves blocking Spencer’s effort after he had raced through from halfway and palming away Langstaff’s shot before also blocking Beesley’s attempt from a narrow angle.
Just past the midway point of the half the breakthrough arrived as Lewis Knight’s deep cross was headed home at the far post by Branson and a quick break then needed McMahon to again deny Langstaff. Ashton’s best chance arrived on 90 minutes as Dimaio’s fizzing effort was palmed away only for Jamie Reed to knock the rebound wide and matters were settled as Spencer tapped home the second after good approach play from substitute Oli Johnson.

Ashton Utd: McMahon, Crowley, Regan, Chalmers, Ashworth, Kay (Reed 77), Jennings, (Tomsett 70), Goulding, Hobson, Dimaio, Mantack (Sheridan 67). SNU: Anghel, Swaby-Nevin.