Robins Buck The Trend

After years of pointless visits Ashton United leave Silverlands with the points. Report by David Robinson

Ashton continued their impressive start to the season with a deserved victory over Buxton at Silverlands – a venue which is usually a difficult destination. Martin Pilkington made a great run to the byline and his cross reached Gary Gee who couldn’t keep his effort down. At the other end a deep cross by King reached Thornhill whose shot was deflected over and the same player then fired in a volley from a corner which almost squeezed under Phillips.
A good break then saw Coppin’s cross blocked for a corner and Gee’s chip back into the area just evaded Lee Rick. The game was open at this point with both sides looking to attack at every opportunity and it was Ashton who opened the scoring 10 mins from the break as Logan’s corner got the slightest touch from Ashley Young to register his first goal for the Robins. Coppin’s great dummy then allowed him to fire a cross across the area which was returned by Richardson and headed just over by Gee.
After the interval Pilkington and Rick exchanged passes before the former was denied from a tight angle by Warrington and Young then played in Rick whose side foot effort lacked power. Rick then exchanged passes with Joe O’Neill (pictured) who was just denied by a last gasp save but with Ashton dominating the possession it came as a surprise when they were pegged back as a scramble in the area saw the visitors unable to clear their lines and Thornhill turned the ball back across the area forcing an own goal from Chris Lynch.
The game could now have been in the balance but this Ashton side have a tremendous spirit and after Richardson’s 30 yard free kick had been touched round the post sub Denham cut inside and sent a left foot effort whistling wide of goal before with 5 minutes left Denham’s far post chip was headed home by Joe O’Neill to give Ashton a deserved victory.
Team: Phillips, Richardson, Pearson, Gorton, Lynch (c), Young, Gee, Rick (Burke), Pilkington (J O’Neill), Coppin, Logan (Denham). SNU: Halford, Freakes.