Frustrating Afternoon in the Sun for Robins

Late equaliser maintains unbeaten record Report by Steve Lee

Matty Kosylo rescued Ashton United with a late equaliser to prevent Grantham Town from becoming the first team to take three points off the Hurst Cross side this season.

Until then, Grantham's gameplan of frustrating their hosts was working a treat in what was a game littered with stoppages for petty fouls and just time wasting in general.

Town had the first chance of the game when Martin Ball headed into the path of supporting right back Sam Purcicoe, but his effort was sliced well wide of the far post.

Ashton created an opening after fifteen minutes when Aaron Burns was found with space on the right wing, he cut inside only to slice his shot wide as well.

Ben Deegan used his height to good advantage by winning a header that Kosylo controlled, but his shot was easily saved by James Lindley.

Burns then again found himself in a space on the right, he took a glance up and aimed his cross to the onrushing Deegan, only to overhit the ball and it went out for a throw.

A fine run from Kosylo ended with a ball to Burns, but his shot deflected off Grant Brindley and away for a corner.

Town ended the first half on top and a cheeky chip from Ben Saunders following a ball from Purcicoe went over the bar.

The visitors took the lead after 36 minutes following a free kick that saw Karl Demidh hit the bar and Phil Watt was first to react to steer the ball home.

The second half was equally as scrappy and it took twenty minutes for either side to create anything worthwhile, Matty Burke's free kick curled over Lindley, but the ball cannoned off the bar and Grantham cleared.

A flowing Ashton move was started by Burns and ended as he got on the end of a Kosylo cross, but his diving header went over the top.

Alex Frost then fired over after a Danny Caldecott free kick wasn't cleared by the Grantham defence, but just when it looked like the Town were going to hold on, Caldecott's cross field ball fell to Kosylo, who raced through and calmly slot home.

Grantham wasted a good chance to regain the lead as Ball headed wide following a free kick from Lee Potts.

After using all three substitutes, Grantham also lost Brindley late in the game to injury.

This allied to the fact that Ashton had their tails up led to a constant onslaught in the closing stages, the visitors escaping a couple of goalmouth scrambles to earn the point they came for.

Ashton United: T. Smith, Harrop, Caldecott, Baker (Beattie 87), Frost, Lynch, Kosylo, Burke, Burns (Barlow 90), Deegan, Baguley
(Mulholland 60) SNU B. Smith, Rose