A single goal twenty minutes from time was enough for the hosts to take the points and move themselves further away from the relegation zone on a dry sunny day in Warwickshire. The Robins were without Oliver Crowley who was replaced by Javid Swaby-Neavin with Connor Dimaio restored in midfield and the Brakes began playing down the slope and a long clearance soon went skimming off Aaron Chalmers’ head with Jordan Murphy’s first touch far too strong taking the ball out of play.
Colby Bishop then put Murphy away beyond Matt Regan with the defender recovering to win a goal kick. George McMahon then got away with dropping a high ball under challenge from Gittings and a free kick saw Bishop’s knockdown driven over the top by the same player. At the other end Chalmers was unable to keep his effort down from Swaby-Neavin’s long throw-in and Toby Lees then conceded a corner with Bishop missing Murphy’s delivery.
A further corner for the hosts saw Edwards’ knockdown blasted goal wards by Gittings needing a brave block by Lees to stop the effort.
Chalmers left a through ball after the restart allowing Obeng to try and find Murphy with the pass blocked as mistakes continued to dominate. Just before the hour the Robins almost made the breakthrough as Craig Hobson’s lay off allowed Sam Sheridan to advance through midfield and hit a 25 yard effort which clipped off the crossbar with Breeden beaten.
English then directed his header past the far post from Murphy’s cross and Dimaio’s shot deflected for a corner which Regan headed just beyond the back stick. Substitute Reece Flanagan almost made an instant impact curling a free kick just past McMahon’s left hand post but a minute later Murphy’s shot was saved at the near post with the rebound falling for Flanagan to tap home. As the visitors tried to recover Swaby-Neavin sent a fizzing cross straight through to the keeper and Jamie Reed’s effort from a corner was deflected out.
Ashton Utd: McMahon, Swaby-Neavin, Regan, Chalmers, T Lees, Kay, Sheridan (Mantack 66), Goulding, Hobson (Reed 76), Dimaio, Tomsett. SNU: Ennis, Roberts, Freeland.
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
16. | Darlington | 42 | 50 |
17. | Hereford | 42 | 49 |
18. | Curzon Ashton | 42 | 49 |
19. | Guiseley | 42 | 44 |
20. | Ashton United | 42 | 35 |
21. | FC United Of Manchester | 42 | 34 |
22. | Nuneaton Borough | 42 | 19 |